Master Food Educator Volunteers are foods or nutrition professionals or individuals without professional training who have an interest in nutrition, food preparation, health, wellness, and the education of youth and adults. Provided with training, these individuals help to expand the nutrition education efforts of University of Delaware Cooperative Extension by working in their communities and organizations and by assisting with the ongoing initiatives of our organization.
Volunteer candidates must apply and complete the 36 hour training. Once a volunteer you’ll complete 40 hours of volunteer time over the next year. For those unable to complete the volunteer commitment a fee of $150 will be charged. Most volunteers choose to continue to work with University of Delaware Cooperative Extension even after their initial obligation is completed.
Volunteer Master Food Educators decide how they would like to contribute their time.
Ongoing projects include:
- Staffing Educational Displays – at locations such as Delaware State Fair, Ag Day, Newark Community Day, health fairs and expos at schools and businesses.
- Assisting with or Conducting Workshops or Demonstrations - on topics such as food safety, foods selection/preparation, nutrition and diet, stretching your food dollar and others.
- School Based Educational Programs – presenting on topics such as nutrition, food safety, and wellness curriculum.
- Other opportunities – include assisting with the development of educational resources, taking leadership positions, photographing events where Master Food Educators volunteer.
Upcoming Master Food Educator Volunteer Training:
- Kent/Sussex County Training Information – Winter brochure 2013[pdf]
- New Castle County Training Information – Winter 2013[pdf]
Current Master Food Educator Initiatives
Workshops at local organizations and libraries include:
- Would Your Kitchen Pass a Food Safety Inspection
- Meal Time in Less Time
- Getting the Most out of Eating Locally
- Boning Up on Health
- Clueless in the Kitchen series
- Cooking from the Garden series
Educational Displays at Public Events:
- A Day in the Garden
- Dupont Chemical Safety Fairs – various sites
- Newark Community Day
- Ag Day – University of Delaware College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
- FMC BioPolymer Employee Health and Safety Fair
- New Castle Library Resource Fair
Providing Demonstration and Food Preparation Assistance for UD Extension Programs:
- Dining with Diabetes
- Eat Smart for a Healthy Heart
- Food Preservation 101
- Water Bath Canning
- Making Jams and Jellies
Other Initiatives:
- Judging 4-H foods projects for State Fair
- Providing nutrition education programs for Delaware State Park jockeys
- Kick it Up with Nutrition – an educational program for middle-schoolers at Shue Medill Middle School afterschool program Spring 2012
