Hunger Task Force and SWSHD Host Family Cooking Class at McCarty Education Kitchen

Hunger Task Force once again joined forces with the Southwest Suburban Health Department (SWSHD) to host a family-centered cooking class at the McCarty Education Kitchen in the food bank’s West Milwaukee headquarters. The no-cost experience provided local families with an opportunity to learn, cook, and taste healthy, MyPlate-friendly meals in an instructive and supportive setting.

The class welcomed five families from the community, totaling 22 participants—16 children and 6 adults. The focus was on preparing nutritious and easy-to-make dishes, including pear quesadillas and simple guacamole. Participants also enjoyed homemade whole-wheat tortilla chips and a healthier substitute for sour cream—low-fat Greek yogurt.

To ensure that families could replicate these wholesome recipes at home, Hunger Task Force and SWSHD provided essential kitchen tools and recipe staples for participants to take home. This effort reflects the shared commitment of both organizations to supporting families in sustaining healthy eating practices beyond the class.

Melanie Foland, Child Nutrition Educator at Hunger Task Force, highlighted the broader impact of these classes sharing, “Cooking together as a family is more than just making a meal – it’s about sharing time and building healthy habits that keep everyone feeling their best.”

These family-centered cooking classes continue to be a valuable tool for both Hunger Task Force and SWSHD, providing local families with consistent opportunities to come together, develop new kitchen skills and prioritize their healthy eating and living in a way that is both engaging and educational.

Hunger Task Force runs a comprehensive nutrition education program to teach students, seniors and the public about healthy eating on a budget. Discover more about our community nutrition education efforts by clicking here.

Hunger Task Force is Milwaukee’s Free & Local food bank and Wisconsin’s anti-hunger leader. The organization’s core values are Dignity, Justice, Equity, Compassion and Stewardship. Hunger Task Force feeds people today by providing healthy and culturally appropriate food to hungry children, families and seniors in the community absolutely free of charge. Hunger Task Force also works to end future hunger by advocating for strong public policies and nutrition programs at the local, state and federal level.