Cooking for Health Academy
Alameda County Nutrition Services has partnered with community organizations since 2011 to provide nutrition knowledge, food safety awareness, and cooking techniques by offering the Cooking for Health Academy (C4HA).
C4HA classes educate and inform participants on the benefits of taking action to increase fruit and vegetable intake and decrease sugar-sweetened beverage consumption. The C4HA offers cooking skills through a United States Department of Agriculture-approved, community informed, hands-on, engaging curriculum.
The C4HA is a series of six, two-hour classes. Each class includes:
- The importance of healthy eating
- Nutrition education
- Shopping for fresh produce
- Safe food preparation
- Culinary skill techniques
- A practice session and recipe tasting
Class topics include MyPlate with details about a balanced, healthy diet of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and fiber, protein sources, and healthy fats, plus tips for reducing sodium and sugar.
Participants who graduate from the Cooking for Health Academy and complete at least five of the six classes are eligible to take the California Food Handler Certification test, all expenses paid!
Cooking for Health Academy classes and workbooks are offered in English and Spanish. Classes are held safely, in a positive, nurturing, fun environment, and can be conducted virtually and/or in-person pending public health safety measures. The Cooking for Health Academy takes place throughout the year in Alameda County.