From Kitchen to Community: Cooking Our Way to Food Security
18 Reasons believes that home cooking transforms lives. The simple practice of eating nutritious food prepared at home increases health outcomes, saves money, and strengthens family bonds. All are solutions to food insecurity, health inequities, and loneliness.
We offer three, multi-week cooking and nutrition education programs for youth, families, adults, and birthing parents: Cooking Matters, Food As Medicine (FAM) and Nourishing Pregnancy. Each year, we teach thousands of families to buy, cook, and eat good food on a limited budget.
Students come from under-invested Bay Area neighborhoods in Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco counties. We partner with community organizations, health and medical centers, and schools to deliver our classes, and all programs are free of charge.
Empowering Communities
Cooking Matters
Cooking Matters continues to empower thousands of food-insecure families in the Bay to stretch their food budgets while making healthier, delicious meals—putting nutritious food within reach. By combining
hands-on cooking practice with culturally sensitive nutrition education and healthy grocery donations, we help participants unlock their culinary creativity and maximize their food resources.
Not just food, but hope
Food as Medicine (FAM)
Food As Medicine (FAM) is a nutrition and medical intervention series for participants with poorly controlled diabetes and pediatric obesity. Funded by CalAIM and in partnership with Contra Costa Health Services, the program helps participants manage their diabetes using nutritious food, cooking skills, and nutrition education. FAM will expand in 2024 to support pregnant people with gestational diabetes.
Building our village
Nourishing Pregnancy
Nourishing Pregnancy supports Black and Latine birthing parents during the last trimester of pregnancy and first months postpartum. Over 16 weeks, Nourishing Pregnancy facilitates workshops, cooking and nutrition classes, doula support, and free grocery deliveries. Outcomes include increased food security, cooking skill and confidence, community and peer networks, and improved health and well-being for parent and child.
Get Involved
Volunteers are an essential part of our community programming. We have volunteer opportunities available for community-minded helpers passionate about sharing their love of good food and home-cooking. There is no professional experience required and we accept applications on a rolling basis.