what we do

Our End Game: America’s Kids Cooking for Life!

Through our cooking and nutrition programs and curriculum, we help kids and families experience the joy of cooking, while learning how and why healthy foods fuel the body. Through our various programs, we believe we can reverse the trend of generations of non-cookers.

At Common Threads, we bring our family-centric, hands-on program model with proven results to kitchens under-resourced across America. Our unique approach empowers children to eat healthy, make sustainable behavior changes, and celebrate culture through food.

Creating Healthier Behaviors

Participants in our programs demonstrate statistically significant increases in:

• Nutrition knowledge
• Overall fruit and vegetable consumption
• Liking of fruits and vegetables
• Self-confidence in cooking skills
• Frequency of helping to cook at home
• Communication about healthy eating to the family

Helping Children and Families get Cooking for Life

During the 2018-19 program year, Common Threads:

• Reached 105,910 students and adults
• Trained 2,748 teachers
• Cooked & served 747,189 healthy meals & snacks
• Partnered with 898 schools and community organizations
• Provided 1,111,073 hours of cooking & nutrition education

Using researched-based curriculum that is tied to national Common Core standards, Common Threads works within school districts and community-based organizations, making it possible to meet kids and families where they live, learn, work and play. Our lessons are taught by trained professionals and experts in their fields, teachers and volunteers who attend our train-the-trainer programs. Our approach focuses on the critical peer relationships and adult mentorship that shape inspire our youth. Through our programs, children experience positive adult interactions and a safe environment in which to learn the relationship between decisions and outcomes. Our community-based adult volunteers support students through the process of cooking and serve as a model for teamwork and social skill building.

We also focus on building a school-wide culture of health with our partners. Teachers, parents and community members have experienced the power of Common Threads' programming, and we have become a trusted partner in the school districts and organizations where we work serve. Common Threads continues to participate in local district vetting processes to ensure high-quality and policy-aligned programming. Common Threads curricula has received independent endorsement and support from a number of organizations and institutions, including but not limited to:

• Alignment with The Common Core State Standards (CCSS)
• Alignment with The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
• Alignment with The National Health Education Standards (NHES)
• Alignment with local school district wellness policies
• Approval by Food and Nutrition Services executives in Chicago, Miami, and Washington DC to use in-school kitchens
• Approval by Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Health and Wellness Board and Materials Review boards as a partner in health and wellness programming
• Being sought out by CPS' LearnWELL pilot program to launch programs in 40 Chicago schools
• Approval by Miami-Dade Public Schools' Research and Review Board
• Approval by an external IRB and district level RRB’s for our evaluation efforts
• Status as an expert in the view of the School Food Alliance (a national group of food service executives focused on improving student health and wellness), Whole Grain Council, Food Marketing Institute and National Grocers Association