Cooking Matters offers cooking and nutrition classes focused on maximizing food resources to community members living on low incomes. We provide hands-on education, combining cooking, nutrition, menu planning, budgeting, kitchen safety and sanitation.

Each Cooking Matters class is led by a team of three trained volunteers: a Chef, a Nutritionist and a Class Assistant who work alongside a staff coordinator to facilitate fun, lively and informative classes for participants. Participants work with the volunteers in educational activities and preparing a shared meal.

Classes are held at public and transitional housing sites, schools and other service-providing agencies throughout Seattle and King County. Classes meet once a week for six weeks. The classes are two hours long, plus 30 minutes of prep time and 30 minutes of clean up (for a total weekly time commitment of three hours a week). Volunteers are encouraged to contribute to all facets of the class, including lesson planning, set-up, clean-up and food preparation.

Nutrition Educator: The nutritionist facilitates interactive lessons and activities emphasizing different nutrition topics each week. Topics include planning balanced meals, benefits of fruits and vegetables, food budgeting, label reading, whole grains, fiber and physical activity. The nutritionist also serves as a positive role model by emphasizing the benefits of nutritious eating and motivating participants to improve their eating habits. A strong background/interest in nutrition or a related field is required; some teaching experience is preferred.

Chef Instructor: The chef will guide participants in preparing healthy recipes while demonstrating proper knife skills, various cooking methods, food safety, recipe reading and sanitation practices. The classes are intended to be highly participatory, meaning that class participants will be cooking with you! During class, the chef will discuss topics such as food budgeting, meal planning, making healthy cooking choices, and making informed decisions at the grocery store. Experience preparing and cooking food in a professional or home setting is required; some teaching experience is preferred.

Class Assistant: Volunteer class assistants help instructors and facilitators with classroom set-up, food preparation, class activities and clean-up. Other duties may include packing groceries for participants to take home, unloading and loading kitchen equipment, and washing dishes. Volunteers with an interest in cooking and/or nutrition are encouraged to apply for this position.

After completing a volunteer application, you will be invited to a new volunteer orientation held at Solid Ground, where you will learn more about Cooking Matters and volunteer expectations. Chefs and Nutritionists will be asked to observe a class already in session before teaching a class. After the orientation and observation, you will be placed to teach a class.

Class schedules are emailed to volunteers three times each year, and classes are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.