We do cooking classes in-school, afterschool, PD days, March break and summer camps. COOKSMART is an engaging hands-on approach to the fundamentals of safe cooking techniques and joys of healthy eating. Kids learn to creatively flavour & savour their delicious meals/snacks. Camp finishes with a fun cooking competition. Locations across Toronto and Mississauga. Call for details.

The Our Kids review of COOKSMART

The program began in Kathy Stewart’s kitchen, slicing and dicing with her three children. For kids, that’s rightly the fun of cooking—getting your hands onto the stuff, feeling the textures, experiencing the tastes and smells, and producing something they can be proud of. And, indeed, that’s precisely where the COOKSMART programs begin—with hands-on, collaborative, creative fun in the kitchen. Cooking, however, is a window onto other worlds, as it were, from the culture of food, to how and what we eat, including fellowship and healthy habits. Food has a central position in our lives, and while kids perhaps aren’t entirely aware of it at every moment during the sessions, Stewart’s experience as a nutritionist is reflected within them. It’s about having fun, gaining skills and independence, as well as providing an entrée into making more informed, healthier lifestyle choices. All sessions are expertly run in safe, professional cooking environments located across the GTA.
 

Kathy Stewart, Founder of COOKSMART
CNP, BEd, MEd, BScH Nutrionist, Educator

COOKSMART started in the kitchen of Kathy Stewart, with her three small children learning how to cut veggies for their pizza toppings. The kids were excited to practice their new skills, especially when they could snack at the same time. As their confidence grew using a knife, they became curious for greater challenges and were soon cooking and baking inspired creations for the whole family. Seeing the independence that only a few simple cooking skills gave her own children, Kathy created a vision for COOKSMART. 

Kathy's extensive experience as a teaching professional, coupled with her training as a nutritionist has given her the knowledge, skills, and passion to make COOKSMART a reality.  

Our goal is to inspire better food choices and basic cooking for life-long healthy eating!

• Testimonial - Chisholm Middle School

  With all the different food choices available, it can be a little daunting to get started in the kitchen. Yet cooking is a lifelong skill that will serve students well in the future, not to mention it’s a delicious hobby!

  Chisholm Middle School students learned through hands-on experience how to properly prepare a nutritious and colourful meal through the Cook Smart program.  Students began their morning workshop with a discussion about proper nutrition and foods which provide health nutrients. Then students learned how to properly wash, cut and prepare foods by following a recipe. The gym was alive with sounds of slicing, dicing, grating and creating a layered bean salad. The students’ patience and teamwork skills paid off as they were able to enjoy their creation at the end of the workshop. Staff and students all agreed that the food was delicious. Students also learned how to properly wash the utensils they used to make their food and how to clean up after themselves in the kitchen.  

  Overall, the students and staff enjoyed the opportunity to discover their culinary creativity.

  Thanks CookSmart!