More than Cooking: What People Gain from Community Cooking Programs
At first glance, a community cooking program might seem simple. A group of people gathering in a kitchen, following a recipe, preparing a meal, and eating together. At FoodFit, a program that has been running at ACSA for over two years - something much bigger is happening.
Community cooking programs are not just about food. They are about building essential life skills, creating belonging, and bridging the gap between wanting to do something and having the confidence and ability to do it.
What is FoodFit?
FoodFit is a 12-week program funded by Right to Food Canada, with three main goals: to cook more, to move more, and to do it together. I have had the chance to run this program at 3 different ACSA locations, and they all have one thing in common: the program is not just a cooking program.
Program Participants engaging in a fitness routine which can also be implemented at home
The Mental Health Benefit
For many FoodFit participants, the primary reason for attending was the sense of connection. Time and time again, participants shared that one of their favourite parts of the program was simply sitting down together after cooking and talking.
No phones. No distractions. Just people enjoying a meal that they've created together.
One participant from the Bay Mills hub shared that they were experiencing challenges at home but looked forward to FoodFit every Thursday because it provided connection and consistency. Telling me: “I am happy here.”
For people of all ages, the program became a safe space, somewhere they felt heard, seen, and valued. For many participants, this sense of belonging was something they did not always experience in other areas of their lives. During meal time, we would talk about things ranging from sales at the grocery store this week, to how someone's grandkid was doing.
The physical activity aspect of the program was also a mental health booster. We all know that physical activity has great impacts on our health, but there are many barriers as to why someone may not be able to get physically active. At FoodFit, with the partnership of a great Zumba instructor, Catherine Lee, we would bring the physical activity weekly to the participants. Zumba was especially successful because it was fun, adaptable, and something everyone could do together.
Food Skills Are Life Skills
For many participants who joined FoodFit, the kitchen initially felt intimidating. When the program was running at the Chester Le location for youth, many of the participants voiced that they had never even cooked before. After 12 weeks, those same youth; who had never cooked a meal were confidently planning balanced meals, reading food labels, shopping on a budget, and bringing TikTok recipes to me each week, wanting to cook them in the program.
Learning how to cook builds independence. It teaches problem-solving and resilience. Throughout the different program sessions, not every recipe turned out perfectly. During one of our sessions, we tried to make jerk chicken and added way too much seasoning; but as a group, we learnt not to do that. The next week when we made tacos, we did not make the same mistake.
Adaptability was an important lesson throughout each session and something that I personally wanted to incorporate into the programs. In one FoodFit group, a participant had a disability which made using a knife difficult. After finding an affordable adaptive chopper at Dollarama, they were able to safely cut onions on their own for the first time ever. That small adjustment made a big difference in their confidence and independence during the program - and that made me happy.
In these moments, cooking once again became more than a skill. It became proof that they could do hard things.
Our participants celebrating their graduation from the summer 2026 cohort of FoodFit.
Want to learn how you can join our next FoodFit Program?
We are excited to launch FoodFit program this fall every Wednesday starting September 9th from 1:00PM – 4:00PM for adults. You can sign up by clicking the link below.