By Chioma Obinna

In the spirit of catching them young, Lindy’s Gem’s Foundation and Maggi are teaching basic cooking skills and how to make a balanced meal to 50 children from schools and less privileged homes in Lagos.

The mini culinary school experience at the Culinary Academy, Lagos is focusing on the fundamentals of cooking these simple healthy nutritious meals. The participants were given practical lessons on how to combine ingredients to produce simple yet healthy and nutritious food; it includes basic cooking methods and recipes, essential kitchen tools and ingredient choices.

COOKING COMPETITION: From left – Nordine Meguini, Nestlé Category Business Manager, Culinary; Sholola Shina (Liberty School) Winner of the Chef Challenge; Editor in Chief and Publisher TW Magazine, Trustee of Lindy’s Gem, Ola Adesuwa Onyenokwe; Oluwashindara Popoola, Immavero School, Co Winner of the Junior Chef Challenge; Ivy Andem, Lindy’s Gem Founder.

Lindy’s Gems Foundation is a CSR platform, which was birthed to address the social development needs of children in less privileged homes.

According to the officials from the Foundation, the 2016 theme, “The Art of Cooking”, was chosen as a tool to get both children from less privileged and other homes in the same environment with no bias to status.

Promoting healthy diet and lifestyles and encouraging consumption of vegetables is part of Nestlé’s commitment to Nutrition, Health and Wellness to enhance the quality of life of individuals and families.

Children are more likely to eat what they have cooked themselves. Whilst they are growing up, it is important to provide them with culinary skills or food knowledge. Through Home Economics Clubs at schools, these children are getting engaged in cooking experience and the culture of nourishing & healthy cooking is being nurtured in them.

The cooking classes started on the 26th of September and ended with a Junior Chef Challenge on October 22nd. The grand finale contest (styled after Master Chef) will host over 300 children, professional chefs and institutions

The sponsors of the programme, one of its Nestle Plc’s brand Maggi, noted that the programme was the 8th in series of successful events by the Foundation, aimed at empowering children through the art of cooking.