Families Cooked Up More Than Parfaits

Sep 6

3 min read

On Saturday, September 5, eight families joined What’s Stirring Family Foundation for another Cooking Up Literacy experience at the Gwinnett County Community Resource Center in Snellville.

Families read, sang, moved, solved a fruit mystery, explored nutrition and science, followed a recipe, and created their own Honey Cocoa Yogurt Parfaits together.

Daniel and Alonna served as enthusiastic youth hosts throughout the experience. They also helped create the featured recipe, which appears in What’s Stirring: Fun, Food & Family — The Healthy Way.

Literacy Was Everywhere

Families began with music and movement before moving into shared reading designed for both early and older learners.

They explored ingredient cards, talked about new vocabulary, and shared what they learned about Greek yogurt, raspberries, blueberries, and cocoa.

Then came the Fruit Mystery Hunt. Children and adults moved around the room, made predictions, solved clues, and discovered surprising science facts about bananas and strawberries.

Families reinforced what they learned before using their cookbook and recipe directions to prepare their parfaits.

The session ended with dancing, tasting, and plenty of smiles.

Impact at a Glance

8 family units participated
2 families were returning participants
100% of participating families rated the experience Excellent
100% said the experience gave their family a fun way to learn together
Families practiced shared reading, vocabulary, science, nutrition, recipe reading, and food preparation
Free books were distributed
One family registered for the next two Cooking Up Literacy experiences
One child asked for the recipe so her family could continue the experience at home

Families didn’t just make parfaits; they practiced literacy, learned nutrition and science, strengthened family connection, and carried the learning home.

What Families Told Us

Parents described the experience in their own words:

“Spending time and activities together is always a great way to make memories.”

“It is a great way to introduce kids to food preparation & nutrition in a fun way.”

“Fun & educational.”

“Super fun and engaging.”

“Come! Show up, beautiful event.”

“Fun experience for all!”

One of the most encouraging moments came after the session when a parent shared that her family had already registered for the next two Cooking Up Literacy experiences. Even more meaningful, her daughter asked for a copy of the Honey Cocoa Yogurt Parfait recipe so their family could save it and make it again at home.

That is what Cooking Up Literacy is designed to inspire—learning that does not end when the session does. When a child wants to take the recipe home, a family has another opportunity to read directions, measure ingredients, talk about food, and cook together.

Why Support Matters

Cooking Up Literacy is designed to turn everyday experiences into meaningful family learning opportunities.

Support from funders and community partners helps make it possible to provide:

Books for families
Shared-reading and learning cards
Cooking and educational supplies
Family-centered literacy and nutrition experiences
Expansion into additional neighborhoods and communities

For families, that means more opportunities to learn and connect together.

For funders, it means investing in a model that brings literacy, nutrition, science, family engagement, and hands-on learning into one accessible community experience.

Come Learn with Us. Help Us Grow.

To families: We would love to welcome you to an upcoming Cooking Up Literacy experience. Come ready to read, cook, laugh, discover, and learn together.

To funders, businesses, foundations, civic groups, and community partners: If you believe in literacy, family learning, nutrition education, and stronger communities, we invite you to help us bring Cooking Up Literacy to more families.

Read Together. Cook Together. Learn Together. Grow Together.

This monthly Cooking Up Literacy experience is presented in collaboration with the Gwinnett County Community Resource Center, which generously provides the food for participating families.