Turning moms into master chefs to keep kids healthy

Without a doubt, amazing volunteer moms around the world are the key to CI’s success. By providing nutrition workshops and cooking classes for moms, we empower them to keep kids nourished and healthy and train other parents in their communities on how to prepare nutritious and affordable meals. Check out the photos below of these moms in action in Ecuador, The Philippines, Colombia and Mexico.

Cooking in Quito, Ecuador

Mothers Laura Segura, Patricia Muenala and Carmen Tenorio in Quito, Ecuador, received training on preparing nutritious foods from CI, and now they’re paying it forward by teaching other moms healthy recipes.

They get all of the ingredients ready for an up-close cooking demonstration. On today’s menu: quinoa salad.

Moms of CI kids come to the community center kitchen to watch the demonstration and pick up healthy cooking tips ...

… and get free samples! (Looks good, right?)

The moment of truth: it’s healthy, but is it tasty?

Kid tested. Kid approved.

Photos by Andrés Rosero, field reporter, Quito, Ecuador.

Meals in Manila, Philippines

In Manila, Philippines, volunteer moms like Elsie Acilum cook large batches of nutrient-rich foods to serve to malnourished CI kids enrolled in our feeding program. 

Let’s peek through the window and see what’s cooking. It’s noodles with vegetables!

Nanay (mother) Jo serves food in front of her house to feed CI kids in her neighborhood who are enrolled in the nutrition program. Breakfast is nearly ready!

Kyla and Robert happily sit together during feeding sessions. They say they're really close neighbors.

Did you notice those blue packets in the previous photo? That’s a fortified milk drink kids mix with water. In addition to calcium, it has extra iron, zinc and vitamin C. Here, Mark Justin mixes his milk. 

Mark Justin also has a protein-packed sandwich with egg, tuna, chicken and pineapples. Looks like he will have plenty of energy at school today.

It may not be a fancy dining room, but these kids have the finest seat in the house — or just outside the house. Moms like Alicia Capaycapay make sure that CI kids get the calories and nutrients they need.

Photos by Pauline Paguia, field reporter in the Philippines.

The joy of soy (and cooking) in Barranquilla, Colombia

Volunteer Elida Camacho has a zest for learning and cooking. “I try to integrate what I have learned [at CI] in every part of my life. I want my community to do the same.”

Here, she teaches moms about the nutritional benefits of soy and how to prepare inexpensive foods with soy.

“I prepare the soy milk, and my son loves it and is happy,” Elida says. 

During the chat, everyone gets a taste of soy milk and a soy cookie. Yum!

Chef mom and volunteer Carola Cañizales makes lunch in her home for malnourished children in CI’s feeding program. “A balanced nutrition is important for kids from birth to adulthood,” Carola says. 

On this day, Carola prepares a delicious lunch of meatballs, green beans, carrots, white rice, vegetable soup and a cup of milk.

Slurp, slurp, slurp! That’s the sound of satisfied kids.

Photos by Patricia Calderón, field reporter, Colombia.

Moms make meals in Mexico

Unlike many other CI agencies where malnutrition is common, childhood obesity is a major problem in Mexico. That’s why we invited mothers in Guadalajara to participate in healthy cooking workshops based on Mexico’s “Good Eating Plate” guidelines. 

After the workshops, the moms committed to sharing their new knowledge with other families in their communities.

These moms put the finishing touches on a fresh salad, using lime juice as a substitute for high-fat dressing. Sounds like a “good eating plate” to me!

While moms were cooking, their kids learned about the food groups and which foods they should eat plenty of and which they should eat sparingly. 

Kids had fun adding cut-outs of food from the different food groups to this gigantic plate.

These kids are on their way to eating healthier.

Photos by Paola Denise Gil, field reporter in Mexico.

CI is helping kids and youth stay healthy with more contextualized programs. What does that mean?

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