Pink and Dude Chef

The purpose of the study is to evaluate an afterschool program to teach nutrition through
basic cooking skills. This after school extracurricular program increases the students'
confidence, knowledge, and skills for cooking as one of the first steps for dietary
improvement. In addition to the life lessons students learn during this class, they gain
self-confidence and become self-sufficient culinary experts that are capable of educating
their siblings, parents, and social circles. This research project will test the impact this
program has on nutritional knowledge, culinary efficacy, and nutritional choices made in and
out of the home. The Pink and Dude Chef Afterschool Cooking Program was developed through
STRIDE (Science through Translational Research in Diet and Exercise at California
Polytechnic state University (Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo, CA.

Hypothesis: Middle school students participating in the Pink and Dude Chef afterschool
cooking program will increase nutritional knowledge, culinary efficacy, motivation to eat
fruits and vegetables, and fruit and vegetable intake compared to an attention control
group.