AUSTIN, Texas — Whole Foods Market here has partnered with “Next Iron Chef” runner-up and owner of Graffiti Food & Wine Bar in New York to create The Kids Food Adventure with Chef Jehangir Mehta.
Targeted at children aged 6 to 11, the new series of classes, store tours and cooking demos are designed “to encourage parents and children to be more adventurous with food while making healthy choices,” according to a release.
“Children can be intimidated by foods that are unfamiliar to them, which means they often won't try something they haven't seen before,” said Mehta. “The Kids Food Adventure will give families fresh ideas to get children interested in trying new food concepts and flavors to make a long-lasting, positive impact on the way they eat. It's a high five for their palates!”
The program was launched on April 10 at Whole Foods' Houston Street location in Manhattan, and the company has announced plans for additional dates in New York, New Orleans, Cambridge, Mass., Denver, Pasadena, Calif., and Austin. Those upcoming dates, along with food tips for parents, recipes and shopping lists, and related blog posts and videos, will be posted on the retailer's website.
“We often observe in our stores that when children try new foods and flavors in a fun setting, they are more prone to add them to their list of favorites,” said Whole Foods Market spokeswoman Kate Lowery. “This program, with its family-friendly classes and online tips aims to put kids and their parents on a path to explore all kinds of delicious and, importantly, nutritious foods.”