Indy Hunger Network: Cooking Matters

Indy Hunger Network (IHN) is a collaborative organization made up of representatives of leading anti-hunger organizations and corporations in the Greater Indianapolis area. By working together, we make the systems that feed the hungry more efficient and effective.

Indy Hunger Network partners with the national Cooking Matters program to offer free cooking and nutrition education courses. Participants learn to shop smarter, use nutrition information to make healthier choices, and cook/prepare delicious, affordable, healthy meals. Cooking Matters: Our program is led entirely by volunteers and IHN staff. If you have a background in culinary arts or nutrition, we’d love to have your help leading classes. We have a variety of volunteer roles available, ranging from assisting in in-person classes, virtual classes, and data evaluation.

•       Culinary Instructors (in-person only):  teaches adults, kids, and teems how to cook and shop for healthy, low-cost foods.  They combine their own knowledge and experience with the lesson plans and recipes provided in the Cooking Matters curriculum.  Culinary volunteers can be a chef in training, a chef, retired chef or someone who genuinely loves cooking and teaching skills they have acquired.  
• ·        Nutrition Instructors (in-person and virtual):  teaches adults, kids, and teens how to make healthy choices.  They use the lesson plans and instructional materials provided in the Cooking Matters curriculum, along with their own expertise in nutrition.  Nutrition volunteers are typically graduates of or enrolled in dietetics programs, have experience working in a nutrition and dietetics position, or retired in the field of nutrition and dietetics.
• ·        Assistants (in-person and virtual):  helps before, during and after classes.  Duties may include shopping for food, handing out and collecting class materials, engaging reluctant participants, helping with set up and clean up, helping with dishes, taking photos or collecting stories during class to help record the Cooking Matters course experience.  Additionally, any other duties that are appropriate to make the class run smoothly.