Studies have shown that children are more likely to try healthy and/or unfamiliar foods if an adult role model is doing the same.

The Foodlink Community Kitchen hopes to test that strategy as a way to increase participation in the City of Rochester’s Summer Meals program. A mini-grant from the Rochester Area Community Foundation will allow Foodlink to prepare extra meals for adult staff members and/or meal site volunteers at two partner sites this summer.

Extra healthy meals will be provided for St. Michael’s Workshop and Urban League of Rochester.

“In our experience, children will try new foods if they see an adult or mentor eating the same foods,” said Claire Savini, RD CDN, Foodlink’s Child Nutrition Program Manager. “We’re looking forward to piloting this for two sites this summer, in hopes that attendance will rise and we can feed more children the healthy meals we provide every day in our community kitchen.”

The pilot is underway, and plans to last until the end of August.