What is a Community Kitchen?
A global concept, Community Kitchens satisfy different needs for different communities.
A community kitchen is a group of individuals who meet regularly to cook healthy, nutritious meals. Everyone is expected to participate in the menu selection shopping, preparation, and cooking; the only requirement is an interest in food. Good nutrition plays a key role in each community kitchen. Participants learn new recipes and are introduced to new foods which contribute to a more balanced diet. As well, several meals are usually taken home and frozen for later, thus furthering healthy eating habits. Members often share nutritional knowledge as they cook and everyone gains from each other's enthusiasm.
Community kitchens are a creative, healthy alternative to feed the souls as well as the stomach. As hands are busied with food preparation, as easy social atmosphere is created. Community kitchens are a place to make new friends, engage in conversation and learn new skills. In community kitchens, meal creation becomes a social activity that benefits everyone's health and social well-being.
The reasons for getting involved in a kitchen may differ but all participants experience the good food and rich social benefits of their shared efforts. Community kitchens achieve a wide variety of needs and desires; vegetarian, gourmet, canning, multicultural, single parent, pre and post natal, diabetes maintenance and prevention, heart smart as well as kitchens for youth, children, seniors and people with various abilities. And the list goes on. Community kitchens invite people to help themselves, each other and their communities.
(source Vancouver Community Kitchen Project)