Put this on your list of fun things for foodies to do with kids on the South Fork this summer. Several programs will put the power of good nutrition and local produce into children’s hands. And most of the programs are free!
Super Foods for Super Kids, a series pioneered by the not-for-profit Wellness Foundation’s WKids, got its start at the East Hampton Library last year. It will be running at East Hampton again. In addition, the full series will run at Montauk Library and a two-session series will run at the Amagansett Library. All the library programs are free.
The one-hour classes include sessions like Power Up Your Plate and Great Grains and introduce kids to the superpowers contained in fresh foods. Attendees will get to make their own nutritious things to eat. “That’s part of the fun,” says Zoë Klein, associate director of education and programs at the Wellness Foundation and a certified health coach with a masters in social work. Klein will run most of the sessions. “The kids get to eat what they make.” These classes will run on different dates, beginning July 17 in East Hampton. Children from 4 on up are welcome, but please note that if your child is 7 or under, you will be asked to stay for the session. Check the website for more specific information.
Founded in 2005 by Doug Mercer, the Wellness Foundation tries to bring healthy eating to South Fork adults and kids through a variety of outreach programs. New this year is the WKids Farm Fresh Cooking Series at Amber Waves Farm in Amagansett. Kids and their parents will learn to make simple and powerful plant-based dishes from what they get at their CSA pickup. Since 2009 Amber Waves—started by former Quail Hill interns Amanda Merrow and Katie Baldwin—has been devoted to sustainable local agriculture and education.
“Amber Waves has an outdoor pizza oven, so one of the sessions will be pizza!” says the Wellness Foundation’s Zoë Klein. Once again, kids get to eat what they make and will get take-home recipe cards too. Sessions will take place July 4, 11, and 18 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The Amber Waves workshops do have a cost. Individual sessions are $25 for a parent and child and $35 for one parent and two children. You can also pre-register for all four for $75 for one parent and one child (savings of $25) and $115 for one parent and two children (savings of $25). Proceeds will support the Wellness Foundation’s free programs.
For more information on Wkids programs and the Wellness Foundation call (631) 329-2590 . You can register for the Amber Waves Series by going to the website.
