MiniChefz Serve Up Healthy Recipes

Chocolate-chip sunflower-butter energy balls. Fresh guacamole. Veggie garlic noodles. These are just a few of the many dishes Northwestern students have taught local youth how to make as part of MiniChefz.  

Led by seniors Alianna Taitano and Felicia Mou, MiniChefz is a Northwestern student organization that provides nutrition education to elementary and middle school students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Northwestern students travel to community centers in Evanston and Chicago to offer weekly after-school cooking classes to youth. At each site, four to five Northwestern students lead up to 20 kids in preparing delicious, healthy plates. 

“I joined MiniChefz in my first year because it combined two of my favorite things — cooking and working with kids,” Mou says. “But as I got more involved, I realized that it was more than just that.”  

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that 13.5% of U.S. households experienced food insecurity in 2023, with Black and Hispanic households disproportionately affected. Studies show that nutrition education can help combat food insecurity and promote health.  

“We work with mostly Black and brown youth,” says Mou. “MiniChefz allows us to get involved with the community while teaching kids basic cooking skills and healthy eating habits. It’s a joy to be a positive part of the community and provide fun activities for the kids.”