Culinary classes in high school can be an informative and fun way for students to learn about different cooking techniques and dishes. It also teaches students how to prepare for the future and use a skill that they may need for their entire life. Culinary classes and courses can help students to be more communicative and social.

    Foods nutrition and child psych teacher, Elaine Schick, teaches the main foods course in Central Kitsap High School. She teaches students how to prep, cook, use culinary skills, and time dishes in her classroom. She teaches foods nutrition/foods II in periods one and five, and food science/foods I in periods two and three. She graduated from Western Washington University, studying to become a math teacher, but took a class that she wanted to major in, Home Economics.

     As the end of the year approaches, seniors are getting ready to graduate, and with that, comes the senior breakfast. The senior breakfast is a large gathering of the graduating class to celebrate the seniors themselves, their last month and year in high school. As well as gets them all to school before graduation rehearsal. The senior class buys the food and the foods II class prepares and caters the hot breakfast during senior finals. Parents of juniors and seniors/the PTSA serves cold food and fresh beverages.

Students join food classes if they have an interest in cooking, or just want a skill to have in the future. Even if one doesn’t want a career in the culinary path, they can have the knowledge to make fresh meals instead of living on instant meals or delivery in college.

“I joined a foods class because I’ve had this interest in cooking, just from seeing my parents cooking meals and meal prep, that it has encouraged me to learn how to cook and the different types of meals from different cultures and the ingredients that are put into them.” says a food science II sophomore.

    Learning about food and the culinary skills is important for everyday life. Everyone eats, so why not learn about the things they are putting in their body, whether healthy or not. It is also important to know that the hard work you put in food, can pay off. Trying new foods is a way of learning too, try something you’ve never tried before, make something different, add different ingredients and condiments. Speaking of hard work, not everybody likes it, some like keeping meals simple, and others don’t like a large amount of dishes to clean afterward. Students often complain about how long the meals take to prep. Some meals are prepared in a span of 3-3 days and how there isn’t enough time to cook and clean. But it is often good to know how to manage time properly.

“Many students think they’re the only ones cleaning, although everyone has to, that’s one of the biggest complaints.” says Schick.

    Before it became Family Consumer Science, the degree was called Home Economics. The name had been changed because the way society changed. Many women would get a degree in Home Economics and use it to raise a family and manage a home without going into the workforce. After men had chosen to take the class and mass amounts of women were applied to the workforce, the name changed, acknowledging that people are in the work force and managing their home and family.

    South Puget Sound Community College is home of a top rated culinary program is the AAS degree, which can be finished in two years. It includes special information and courses about cooperative work opportunity, Molecular Gastronomy, and Emerging Culinary Trends and Artistry. Associate degrees can come as an option for training at a lower cost or an apprentice program. Many programs, like the certificate program can be finished in one year. SPSC includes many informative and fun campus dining options, as in “food truck style” by The Clipper Café, or instructional international cuisine from in training culinary students by The Percival Dining Room. Top graduates can be included in luxury restaurants, casinos, resorts, hotels, and kitchen catering.

    Tuition for SPSC is $3,852 a year for in-state residents. The cost is 3% cheaper than the average Washington tuition of $3,952 for 2 year colleges. Although it it 12% more expensive than national public two year tuition of $3,443.