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The Mission
At Together We Cook, my goal is to empower children to be confident in the kitchen, to inspire them to explore new flavors and make healthy choices and to encourage families to cook and eat together - all valuable life skills children will carry into their adult lives.
About Mari Coelho
I am a mother, former lawyer, food lover and author of the food blog Hearts of Palm, where I share recipes, tips for cooking with children and my family’s culinary adventures.
My fondest memories are from times spent in the kitchen with my grandmothers - and most recently with one of my aunts - while they spent countless hours immersed in the joy of preparing delicious meals for our families. Without knowing at the time, I was learning the importance and the power of feeding your loved ones in the best way you can.
While working as a lawyer in Brazil, I attended cooking classes at the beloved Brazilian cooking school Escola Wilma Kövesi and explored my passion for cooking for several months before moving abroad. Early on, I realized that the more we learn about food and prepare our own meals, the more mindful and conscious eaters (and feeders) we become.
As our family grew, I saw how each of our children benefit from cooking in different ways: from feeling independent, creative and more confident to spending quality time with the us, often too busy parents, or feeling proud of themselves by contributing to feeding the family (read more in 7 Tips for Cooking with Kids and Kid Empowering Açaí Smoothie). In December 2016, I returned to Escola Wilma Kövesi for a brief internship in their summer program for children before launching Together We Cook.
Inspired by the fun times in the kitchen with my own little sous-chefs and by the fun I had as I participated in their classrooms while they attended a cooperative preschool, I combine my passion for cooking and for children by teaching kids basic cooking skills in a fun and creative environment.
Why Cooking With Kids?
“I love science, and cooking is science, so I love cooking!” - George, 5 years old
Kids are naturally curious and eager to explore in this grown-up world of cooking. Nearly all children enjoy participating in food-related activities, one way or another: from planning, gardening, shopping, cooking, setting the table, eating and washing the dishes. The early years provide an excellent opportunity for parents, caregivers and teachers to contribute to the development of children’s healthy and positive lifelong eating habits.
Preparing food is exciting and a source of knowledge of science, cultural heritage, math, geography and reading in addition to food and nutrition. While cooking in a group setting, children also learn how to work together and to assist each other.
By teaching children basic cooking skills and introducing them to a variety of whole ingredients at an early age, kids develop an appreciation for real foods and become more willing to try new flavors, especially when they are having fun cooking with their peers.
Learn More
"Together We Cook is such a fantastic program that I've recommended so highly to other parents-thank you so much, Mari, for putting together such a fun and educational program!!"
- Parent of a preschool age student
During our hands-on cooking classes, camps and workshops, kids ages 3-14 learn age-appropriate cooking skills using lots of fresh, organic and local ingredients to create delicious foods and wonderful memories. We also talk about seasonability, the origin of the food and kitchen safety while we cook. Kids bring recipes home (and any leftovers!) to share the joy of cooking what they learned with their families.
Together We Cook is located at Mari's home near Telegraph and Franconia Roads, 10 minutes south of Old Town, Alexandria. Together We Cook also offers cooking classes and workshops at other locations in Alexandria.
Does your child have food allergies? Together We Cook is not a nut free cooking school, but we want to welcome all children and can accommodate most food allergies if notified in advance at the time of registration.
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