summerlunch+ at home 2022: All the fun we are having this summer!

Article by: Megan Hipkin

We are over halfway through the summer and we are having so much fun cooking and learning with the communities we serve. This is the third year the summerlunch+ at home program is running and we are continuing to provide nutritious food, food skills and literacy education, and a sense of community and connection through this program. summerlunch+ 2022 currently serves Regent Park and Thorncliffe Park, with summerlunch+ staff preparing free meal kits and providing on-site support for the 78 registered families of the program. 

Our 8-week program continues to focus on building connections and skills through food and mentorship. This summer we have Megan Hipkin, a dietetic Master's student from TMU running our cooking and food skills workshops. She has a passion for food, cooking, and educating youth. She brings this passion and energy to the children we serve! “The live cooking classes are so much fun and seeing the growth in knowledge and confidence in each child participating is truly amazing! We have so many talented chefs in the making!”

Our curriculum promotes sustainability and accessibility by working to address barriers to healthy lifestyles and eating patterns for youth in Canada. The summerlunch+ team uses a plant-focused diet alongside nutrition education to promote healthy lifestyles, eating patterns and skills for children to foster independence and autonomy in the kitchen. The summerlunch+ team aims to improve programming by promoting engagement, mentorship and working to build a sense of community through our virtual program.