Community Food Educator Certification

FamilyCook Productions provides training for the staff at schools, community-based organizations and other agencies to conduct one or more of our six programs in their community. Our programs and curricula are available through a license and require some training. Programs and trainings are designed for the most basic learning environment. No fancy kitchen necessary!

The FCP certification training is conducted over two or three days (curriculum dependent).  Our training team is comprised of dietician, chef(s) and food educator(s), depending upon the number of persons to train and sites that will begin one of our educational programs. FCP’s multi-disciplinary Training Certificate Program enables participants without prior cooking experience or a college education to develop basic skills, and confidence to successfully run a FamilyCook program. In one training, we can facilitate as many as 15 sites to get up and running!

The following information and skills development are the primary focus of the training:

• Culinary skills, emphasizing knife skills and safety to easily prepare fresh food and vegetables
• Food safety & hygiene
• Fundamental nutrition principals and healthy eating strategies
• Recipe demonstration/presentation in front of an audience
• Collaborative recipe preparation with children (and parents)
• Program management

At the end of the 3-day training program, participants are assessed for their competency in these disciplines. Participants will go through a written and performance based assessment  that will evaluate their knowledge in the disciplines listed above to run their program successfully. Upon passing, participants will be awarded a Certificate that certifies their skills as a Certified Food Educator by our organization.  In NYC, the certificate program is endorsed by the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene.

Upcoming FamilyCook Training Dates

The following are group training dates that can accommodate up to 26 persons:

• November 2nd-3rd, Southern Pennsylvania
• November 16th, 19th & 21st, New York City metro area

Contact us for details and to receive a training sign-up application

Note:  FCP requires a minimum of two individuals per site, who will work together as a team, to be trained in our curricula.  We additionally recommend that at least one supervisory person from each program site also be trained, as supervisors must understand the program to manage it properly.

Get information about licensing!

By-Product of FCP Program The educators who are trained to teach FCP’s programs are empowered by the training.  The training prompts a transformation in the educators’ own relationship with food by giving them the skills to cook the kind of meal that tastes good and is good for them. They experience how cooking collaboratively in a group is a celebratory, joyous experience and they are eager to share their knowledge with the children and, when appropriate, with the parents.  Hence the program furthers staff development and embeds the knowledge in your community!