Inova Healthy Plate Club

From yuck to yum

"Eww! I do not like cauliflower," said a fifth-grade boy. He had arrived at the Inova Healthy Plate Club (IHPC), a program that teaches kids about cooking and nutrition, to learn he’d be making cauliflower nuggets.

But, as this student and his classmates beat the eggs, measured seasonings, and lightly breaded the cauliflower, his attitude started to change. By the end of the hour, he was happily eating a plate of cauliflower nuggets. "I guess I do like cauliflower!"

Through creative taste tests, hands-on cooking, and nutrition education, IHPC works to increase vegetable consumption among children who attend Title 1 schools or who are eligible for free and reduced lunch.

Schools and community sites can bring classes directly to their locations, and parents can register their students for IHPC’s online classes. This program remains free due to philanthropy and our partnership with Truist.

Since 2016, nearly 3,000 students have completed the Inova Healthy Plate Club’s in-person and online cooking programs.

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Classes for Title 1 schools and community sites

To learn more, contact us at HealthyPlateClub@inova.org

Cooking and nutrition classes

Bring the Inova Healthy Plate Club to students at your Title 1 school or community site.

For eight weeks, K-8th grade students will:

Learn nutrition concepts like building a balanced meal and reading food labels
Explore the taste, smell, sight, and texture of new veggies
Learn how to cook recipes like kale chips, veggie stir fry, and green smoothies

IHPC is held in the after-school timeframe and over the summer.

Classroom lessons: K-4th grade

The Inova Healthy Plate Club will bring nutrition lessons directly to your K – 4th grade classroom.

Our 30-minute lessons are aligned to Virginia’s Standards of Learning topics such as:

Understanding the five food groups
Eating a rainbow of fruits and vegetables
Reading nutrition facts labels

Each class features a short lesson and an activity such as Jeopardy! or a MyPlate craft.

Virtual classes for kids and parents

For more information, fill out our interest form.

Online classes: cook with us from home!

Bring IHPC directly to your kids at home! In our online classes, your student will cook fun and nutritious recipes, explore veggies with their five senses, learn how to build snacks, and more!

The classes are online, so you can cook with us right from your kitchen. Families who need assistance can receive the ingredients free of charge.

"My son eats everything he cooks! I am grateful that the class introduced more veggies to his diet."

Student eligibility:

K-7th grade
Attends a Title 1 school or receives free/reduced lunch
Lives in Northern Virginia

Nutrition classes for parents

Our classes for parents are taught in English and Spanish and include topics such as:

Strategies to encourage kids to try veggies and accept new foods
Building a balanced plate for kids
Preventing heart disease and Type 2 diabetes

Parent classes are online, free, and taught by either a registered dietitian or health educator.

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