Cooking Up Confidence in LA Youth

K-12 STEAM education

San Fernando Valley Antelope Valley Other

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Far too many youth in Los Angeles County lack access to basic cooking skills, nutrition education, and culturally relevant food experiences. This leads to poor health, low confidence, and reliance on ultra-processed foods leading to health risks. At the same time, families are disconnected—often missing the simple but powerful act of sharing meals.
The root issue isn’t just food insecurity—it’s food illiteracy and a loss of connection. In low-income and historically excluded communities, these gaps reinforce generational disadvantages. Our classes help families, many whom are already receiving food assistance, discover delicious, practical ways to cook with what they have—bridging the gap between knowledge and availabe resources. We believe that when kids learn to cook, they build confidence, cultural pride, and leadership. They bring their families back to the table and nourish more than just bodies—they nourish family bonds.

Pals & Pans is Meals in Motion’s flagship after-school cooking education program, serving students and families across the Antelope Valley. Through a 10-week, hands-on series, youth in grades 3–8 learn to prepare real, healthy meals from scratch while gaining confidence, leadership skills, and a sense of pride. The program is especially vital in the Palmdale School District, where many students come from food-insecure households and lack access to basic cooking instruction or nutrition education.
Currently, limited staffing and equipment restrict us to just 10 school sites — yet for the 2025–2026 school year, more than 25 Palmdale schools have formally requested our program. This grant will allow us to meet that overwhelming demand by hiring and training new support staff, expanding our equipment, and developing bilingual materials to reach more families.
In addition to youth classes, we host family workshops where students invite parents into the kitchen — showcasing what they’ve learned, cooking side-by-side, and leading the way. These powerful moments bring families back to the dinner table, bridge school and home, and remind parents just how capable their children are. Pals & Pans doesn’t just teach cooking — it strengthens homes, celebrates culture, and brings entire communities together.

If our work is successful, youth in the Antelope Valley and across LA County will be better equipped for success at school and home. Hunger and unstable family dynamics are two of the biggest challenges students face — we address both through the unifying power of food. When kids learn to cook, they gain confidence and agency. When families cook together, home life stabilizes, communication improves, and risky behaviors decrease. Food becomes a tool for prevention, pride, and connection.
With this grant, we can serve 25+ Palmdale schools now and lay the groundwork for broader impact. Our milestones: 1) Launch a digital curriculum to reach more students, 2) Build a train-the-trainer model to expand through partners, and 3) Establish a regional hub to deepen sustainability. Over time, we’ll see stronger families, healthier youth, and more students thriving — because when young people learn to cook, they do more than eat better. They live better.