Black Girls Cook

About half of African-American women in the U.S. are obese, compared to 30 percent of white women. Black women not only carry more weight, but they start piling on extra pounds years before their white counterparts. Research suggests the problem starts early and it has a lot to do with the convenience foods girls consume during childhood years. Hands-on cooking classes are not taught in schools and businesses that teach cooking classes for kids are very expensive. Therefore, girls living in households with limited incomes and don't have access to healthy food options tend to eat convenience foods which over time impacts their health in a negative way. Food equity and access to cooking classes is a serious issue in inner-city communities and Black Girls Cook aims to alleviate the problem one girl at a time. Black Girls Cook is available to adolescent girls throughout Miami-Dade between the ages of 8 and 15 with high priority being given to candidates living in food deserts and historically under-invested communities. We target this demographic because going through puberty is a very critical time for a girl developing into a young lady. Black Girls Cook teaches the ultimate survival that will prepare each girl to live a healthier life which will prepare them for adulthood and that is cooking.