Welcome to the Cooksmart Lab
We are thrilled to bring experiential food literacy and healthy eating directly into Peel Region schools this Fall.
The COOKSMART Lab is an immersive, 3-part experience brought directly to your school.
Building real-life food skills and confidence.
Empowering student leadership in healthy eating and food literacy.
As part of the Growing Healthy Places initiative, COOKSMART is delivering immersive food literacy workshops across 10 Peel Region schools this Fall.
Our goal is to actively promote healthy eating, foundational nutrition knowledge, and practical food literacy. We believe the kitchen is the best classroom. By teaching real-life, hands-on skills, we engage students in meaningful ways that build genuine kitchen confidence and a lifelong connection to the food they eat.
The Three Pillars of the Lab
Each participating class will experience three interactive workshop stations each delivered within a scheduled timetable slot.
Eat Smart
Hands-on Cooking
Building fundamental kitchen skills safely by preparing a Small Meal.
Gr 3-5: Rainbow salad & DIY Dressing.
Gr 6-8: Grain bowls with drizzle.
Choose Smart
Nutrition & Healthy Eating
Exploring food labels, making sense of nutrition information, and understanding how to make balanced choices for lifelong wellbeing.
Grow Smart
Growing Food & Sustainability
Connecting students to local food systems, germination, and sustainability by actively growing herbs and sprouts for eating.
Seamless School-Wide Rotation
See exactly how the COOKSMART team manages the flow of the day for your school.
Our Team Arrives & Sets Up
The COOKSMART team arrives early to transform your designated spaces (Gym, Library, Classroom) into fully-equipped, safe learning stations. We handle all ingredients, tools, and portable washing stations.
First Rotation Begins
Classes arrive at their designated starting stations. Our certified instructors take the lead, introducing the activity, safety rules, and guiding students through hands-on learning. Teachers observe and support behavior.
Sanitization & Reset
While students are on break, our team rapidly sanitizes all stations, replaces tools, and preps fresh ingredients for the next group. Zero stress for school staff.
Second Rotation
The next set of classes rotates through the stations. Depending on your school size, this may be a new grade level or the same classes moving to their next pillar (Eat, Choose, Grow).
Major Reset & Lunch
A full system reset during the lunch hour. Stations are deep-cleaned and replenished.
Final Rotation
The afternoon block concludes the learning cycle for the final participating classes, ensuring everyone gets a hands-on experience before the bell rings.
Pack Down & Deep Clean
We leave the spaces exactly as we found them. All equipment, waste, and materials are packed out by the COOKSMART team.
School Logistics
We make this turn-key. Here is exactly what we need from your school to ensure a smooth launch.
1. Three Physical Spaces
Hover or tap the rooms below to see how the Lab deploys in your school.
Gymnasium
Requires 8 tables & garbage cans for the Eat Smart station.
Library
Requires seating and a screen for the Choose Smart presentation.
Classroom
Standard room (or outdoors) for the Grow Smart activity.
2. Required Information
- Timetable and list of participating classes (class name, grade, # of students, teacher).
(Due 2 weeks prior) - Complete list of any food allergies in participating classes.
(Due 2 weeks prior) - Signed Student Permission Forms.
(Due 1 week prior)
Team Leads: Ready to submit your school's information?
What COOKSMART Provides:
Our team arrives 30 minutes prior to the first workshop to set up. We bring:
- All ingredients and cooking materials.
- Kitchen equipment (including portable washing stations).
- Certified instructors to lead the activities.
- Nut-free and allergy-friendly safe foods.
Note: Classroom teachers are required to remain with their class to supervise behaviour and incorporate the learning.
Classroom Integration Activities
Maximize the impact of the COOKSMART Lab with these short, curriculum-aligned activities designed for your classroom.
Eat Smart Core Concepts
Build a Balanced Plate
Activity: In small groups, students sort food image cards into the three main Food Guide categories, then use them to build their own balanced meal. Challenge them to swap ingredients or add textures.
Bridge to Lab: "When COOKSMART visits, you'll use these exact ideas while preparing food yourselves."
Meal Inventors
Activity: Students design a completely new meal including all three food groups, 3 colours, and 2 textures. Give them a "Mystery Chef Challenge" (e.g., "One ingredient is missing, what do you swap?").
Wrap-up: Students give a 30-second "Chef's Pitch" to a partner explaining their creation.
Aligned With EcoSchools Initiatives
COOKSMART programs are explicitly designed to complement and support school sustainability goals.
Our workshops help schools reinforce themes actively connected to environmental stewardship, waste reduction, local food systems, and healthy school certifications.
Learn About EcoSchools CanadaProgram Pillars Supported:
Trusted Across Ontario
COOKSMART partners with school boards to deliver safe, compliant, and impactful experiential learning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the COOKSMART Lab?
The COOKSMART Lab is a series of interactive workshops designed to promote healthy eating, nutrition, and growing food & sustainability in your school through hands-on experiences.
What are the core offerings?
Our programs centre around three pillars: Healthy Eating (Hands-on Cooking), Nutrition, and Growing Food & Sustainability.
Do teachers need to prep or facilitate the stations?
No. COOKSMART provides certified facilitators. Teachers simply supervise their class as they actively engage in the experience and help incorporate the learning into the classroom.
How do you handle severe allergies?
Our mobile kitchens are strictly nut-free. We coordinate with school administration beforehand to safely accommodate specific student IEPs and severe dietary restrictions. Please ensure allergy lists are submitted 2 weeks prior.
Where can I find the Permission Form?
A sample permission form/release form is available for download in the Logistics section above. It must be signed and returned to the school prior to the workshop date.