Northwestern Medicine Delnor Community Kitchen offers cooking classes for children with sensory issues

Children with disabilities, sensory issues or autism may be extremely sensitive to the flavor, color, smell and texture of foods.

A new program at the Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital Community Kitchen is teaching children with disabilities how to cook and introducing them to healthier food options.

Children use kid-friendly utensils to cut up fruit and vegetables and chop fresh herbs. They assemble fruit salsas, make their own pizzas, and stuff tacos with loads of healthy options.

All is done under the guidance of a dietitian and pediatric occupational and speech therapists.

"Eating is a huge sensory experience. More exposure to a variety of foods in an enjoyable environment helps our young patients tolerate new tastes, textures and smells," said Breanna Foley, MOTR/L, pediatric occupational therapist at Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital. "And the hands-on experience is wonderful for working on fine motor skills."

The class starts with a food demo to show the participants step-by-step what they will be making.

Registered dietitian Mary Zupke passes around the ingredients encouraging the children to touch, feel and smell every item. She chooses recipes that are simple, but with a variety of ingredients and lots of colors. Then the dicing, chopping and mixing begins.

"We have found if the children make the food themselves, they are much more likely to eat it," Zupke said. "It's been wonderful to watch the kids explore new flavors and the parents are excited about getting out of a food rut."

Five-year-old Joshua Blake of Geneva wrinkled up his nose as his put spinach, dried tomatoes and basil on a Mediterranean pizza, but once it came out of the oven, he quickly gobbled up his own creation.

"He normally wouldn't eat spinach. I can't believe he ate the whole thing," said mom Robyn Blake. "This program has been great. He is trying new foods, and when he comes home he wants to help in the kitchen."

Classes include tips on how to make every meal healthier. The pizza class incorporates hummus, lots of veggies, and low-fat cheese. A healthy desserts menu highlights dark chocolate and fresh berries to add sweetness to the meal, while also decreasing inflammation and increasing antioxidants. The Mediterranean class makes meals with healthy fats and plant-based proteins.

"The children are learning so much more than just cooking. They also count, make shapes, follow directions, share and take turns," said Alyssa Boyer, MS, CCC-SLP, pediatric speech therapist at Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital. "It provides social interaction and the opportunity to encourage independence."

The next class will be offered on Wednesday, Sept. 18.

"Tot Chefs" (age 3 to 5) will be 10 to 11 a.m. and "Taste Heroes" (age 6 to 15) meets from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. On the menu will be tacos. The children will explore healthy taco options with meat and without using delicious fresh herbs.

The Northwestern Medicine Delnor Community Kitchen is a place for people of all ages to learn about nutrition in a fun and engaging environment.

Participants discover how to eat healthy by increasing consumption of vegetable, fruits, whole grains, healthy fats and protein foods.

Previous cooking experience is not required.

Note this is not an allergen-free kitchen.

For more information, visit bit.ly/DelnorKitchen or call (630) 933-4234 or TTY (630) 517-0215.