In our country today, there’s a skyrocketing obesity problem among children – especially in low-income Black and Latinx communities.
But one nonprofit, Common Threads, has a recipe for combating it. By teaching nutrition and cooking skills to kids and families, the charity – which is based in Austin and operates in 14 cities nationwide, including Miami since 2009 – is tackling diet-related diseases such as diabetes while encouraging healthier lifestyles.
In the 2018-2019 program year, Common Threads partnered with 19 Miami-Dade County public schools, plus numerous community groups, to equip underserved neighborhoods with the information needed to make affordable, nutritious meals.
“We believe we need to educate everyone who interacts with children,” says Jordan Fickess, vice president of communications and culture for Common Threads in Miami.
The group’s recipes align with government assistance programs such as SNAP and WIC to help families stretch their dollars.
“We create recipes that can feed a family of four for $10 to $15, and we also educate families on how they can make multiple meals with a few ingredients,” says Fickess.
Kids from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade learn nutrition basics, identifying what Common Threads calls the Go, Slow, and Whoa foods (those you can eat anytime, sometimes or once in a while) for a balanced diet. Students in third through eighth grades are taught kitchen sanitation and safety, knife skills, using a stovetop and oven, and how to sauté and bake.
“People are often surprised to see that kids as young as third grade are able to produce a meal in a kitchen using knives and the stove,” says Fickess. “And many children take these skills home to make snacks and meals for their families.”
Acknowledging Miami’s diverse multicultural makeup, the program covers cuisines from various countries, including egusi soup from Senegal and anticuchos de pollo from Peru.
Founded in Chicago in 2003 by Florida native Art Smith, a former cook for Oprah Winfrey, and his husband, artist Jesus Salgueiro, Common Threads is serving up lessons that last a lifetime. O
For more information, call 512-879-3412 or visit commonthreads.org.
