Cooking Matters

Share Our Strength's Cooking Matters is a ground-breaking nutrition-education program that connects families with food by teaching them how to prepare healthy, tasty, low-cost meals. Professional chefs and nutritionists volunteer their time and expertise to lead hands-on courses that instruct adults, teens, and kids on how to get the most nutrition out of a limited budget. 

In Maine, Cooking Matters is managed by Good Shepherd Food Bank. Classes are offered in partnership with Maine SNAP-Ed, Eat Well Nutrition Program, 5-2-1-0 Let's Go!, and community partners. Cooking Matters partners with host agencies such as local community centers, after-school programs, and food pantries to offer classes for the agency's clients. 

Each of Cooking Matter's specialized nutrition curricula teaches hands-on meal preparation, practical nutrition information, and food budgeting skills. These four to six-week classes are free to participants and host agencies. At each class, participants receive a bag of groceries and recipes to try at home.

We have a wide variety of opportunities for people interesting in volunteering with Cooking Matters Maine. Volunteers are expected to attend all six, two-hour classes. 

• Culinary instructors serve as an educator and role model, teaching key skills ad inspiring participants to cook healthier, inexpensive meals at home.  
• Nutrition educators will serve as a teacher and role model, teaching and reinforcing key messages about healthy eating and inspiring participants to adopt healthy eating habits. 
• Course coordinators are responsible for organizing the Cooking Matters class and all parties involved.
• Class shoppers do the grocery shopping prior to each class and ensure that each class is stocked with healthy, inexpensive foods. 
• Class assistants will provide classroom support as needed. 

View our task descriptions here.