March was in like a lamb, but it will be out like a lion when it comes to programming. April promises a shower of events, outreach, and more, which is pretty exciting compared to previous years.
Looking back at March, one highlight was the Read and Snack program. My branch manager and I read Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. We even made green eggs using spinach to dye them, did the kids love it? Not really! There was one little girl who seemed to enjoy them, but overall, they weren’t the kids’ favorite. The foods the kids really like to make include pizza and guacamole. Of course, not every recipe is a hit, but that’s okay. We chose healthy food options because, often, we try to win over kids and teens with sugary, less healthy treats. This time, we felt that teaching nutrition literacy is a vital part of what we do. Showing how small tweaks to recipes can make them healthier, without sacrificing taste, is something we want to promote. We’ll still have programs with snacks and drinks that aren’t as healthy, of course! But if we can demonstrate that subtle recipe changes can make a difference, we’ll definitely give it a try.
Thinking about starting a snack or food program?
We’re happy to share that we received a generous donation, which gave us the chance to purchase a Charlie Chart. See link below to see how this program is possible.
Link: https://charliecart.org/
That’s where it all began. My branch manager is known for her expertise in specialty programming. She might not openly admit it, but her programs are definitely not your average ones. So, she, along with the teen librarian at the time, took a full-day course called ServSafe, and that’s how our food programs came to life.
Note: As far as I know, ServSafe isn't officially required for food programming at the library. However, our library director has requested it as a safety measure when preparing and handling food here.
Currently, we offer cooking classes for both adults and kids. We find easy and fun recipes that fit a specific theme each month. For kids, we go with what’s happening that month, like September being apples, November focusing on potatoes for Thanksgiving, and May featuring fruit for summer. For the adult program, my branch manager uses a database called AtoZ World Food, which we share with the community. Each month, she selects a recipe from different countries. We also used to run a teen cooking course, but that’s currently on break.
The cart includes a variety of supplies to support you in coaching or teaching a cooking program, a large book filled with “lesson plans,” and a protective cover for storage.
Can this program be run alone?
Honestly, I believe it could be run independently in a library setting. For kids' programs, we do need adults around for supervision. However, since I’m not completely comfortable cooking my own food most days, I’ve brought in some help for the program. It really makes things run more smoothly, and I don’t have to handle the reading, activities, food prep, food purchasing, and cooking all on my own.
