Kitchen class teaches students more than cooking

BEXLEY, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Bexley program is taking students out of the classroom and putting them in the kitchen. It's an effort to counter the COVID-induced struggles of many students to develop interpersonal skills, confidence, and resilience. 

"We want to create a program to really build the students up, build their resilience, help them overcome adversity, and, make them feel good about themselves and good about life," founder and director Shea Kaltmann said. 

Kaltmann founded Kitchen of Life in 2022. He noticed many students were going back to school and struggling to socialize with others. One study showed there is a disconnect with many students who spend a lot of time remote learning.  

"Social connection and belongingness with close others are of crucial importance for adaptive development," according to a study published by the National Institutes of Health.  

Kaltmann wanted to create something that would give students an “outside of the classroom” opportunity to develop these skills.  

"It helps the students problem solve in real-time and helps historic students learn how to communicate with each other. It helps to teach the students how to advocate for themselves, helping them believe in themselves that they can actually do it. They can do this. And wherever life may take them, they could practice, these important life skills," he said.  

On Tuesday morning, a group of students from Bridge Gate Community School, a public charter school in Columbus, attended their third session at Kitchen of Life. The students are tasked with learning how to follow a recipe, work with others, and make decisions for themselves and their group. 

The students made two different types of smoothies and yogurt parfaits. Each student chose a different role, whether it was helping gather the ingredients, getting the supplies, or prepping and chopping the food. 

"Autonomy is to make your own decisions and follow your own path. You don't have to listen to others and tell what they want to say. You have to follow your own path and go the right way,"  Rayonna, one of the students attending their third session, said. 

“Autonomy” was the word of the day at Kitchen of Life. Previously they had worked on “Belonging” and “Competence.”  

"If you don't try to do something, you'll never get better at it. I'm an artist, so I understand if you don't practice, and if you just give up the first time, I'm, you do something wrong. You're never going to get better," Rayonna said. 

These students often feel as if their lives aren't in their own hands; others are making decisions for them like parents or teachers. But they're learning that even in school, there are decisions they can make.  

"I'm used to following people. Being a follower and not taking my own role and doing my own stuff," Bridge Gate ninth grader Ona said. 

She learned a lot Tuesday.  

"You can make your own decisions, and you don't have to follow anybody else," she said. 

The group cooking class pushed Ona outside her comfort zone.  

"I am very much nervous when it comes to around a lot of people," she said. But when asked how it went, she answered, "Amazing. I had so much fun." 

Kaltman said Kitchen of Life serves 3,020 students each year and is funded through grants. Tuesday, a group of employees at Whole Foods in Upper Arlington helped each group navigate the recipes.   

To get involved, check out the Kitchen of Life website by clicking here.