For young adults of all abilities, learning how to prepare a meal can be about much more than what ends up on the plate.
Angela Lucas, president and founder of Hangout One Happy Place, brought participants from the Baldwin-based nonprofit to Sizzle and Scoops in Oceanside on Aug. 5 for a hands-on cooking experience designed to build independence, confidence and life skills.
Hangout One Happy Place is dedicated to bringing young adults of all abilities together through creative and social programming. The organization offers a variety of art, dance, fitness and life skills classes six days a week, providing participants with opportunities to learn, grow and build meaningful connections.
Cooking is one of those offerings.
Lucas said teaching young adults how to prepare meals is a vital part of helping them become more independent.
“I feel it is important for young adults of all abilities to be able to make simple meals for themselves,” Lucas said. “Learn about cooking safety and how to use different methods of cooking.”
Looking to give her students a hands-on experience outside of their regular classes, Lucas reached out to Sizzle and Scoops. She said she chose the Oceanside business because she had always viewed it as an inclusive environment.
“When I approached them, they were very happy to accommodate us,” she said.
The cooking program gives participants an opportunity to take ownership of what they make. Students plan what they want to cook for the following week, allowing them to choose recipes and meals they are interested in learning.
Once they are in the kitchen, the participants are involved from start to finish.
“They do all the prep work, cooking and cleaning up,” Lucas said. “This gives them a sense of pride.”
Over time, the group has prepared a wide variety of meals and treats, including pizza, tacos, egg sandwiches, pigs in a blanket, quesadillas, ice cream cake, sliders, pasta and meatballs.
The students are not simply following along while someone else does the work. They set the table, gather utensils and collect the equipment they need, giving them responsibility for each step of the process.
“They’re 100 percent involved because that’s how they learn,” Lucas said.
The trip to Sizzle and Scoops also offered the participants a chance to experience a local business and see what happens behind the scenes.
Lucas said opportunities like the visit help students understand how different businesses operate while giving them a chance to experience cooking and ice cream-making in a real-world setting.
“It’s an amazing experience for them all,” she said.
For Lucas, the value of cooking extends far beyond learning a recipe.
Cooking can help participants make choices, care for themselves and even prepare meals for their families. Most importantly, she said, it can provide a sense of accomplishment.
“Cooking builds independence in so many ways,” Lucas said. “It helps with making choices, being able to cook for yourself, cook for your family, and that sense of pride.”
