This week on Project Foodie we spotlighted a cookbook that not only presents recipes but serves a good cause.  The cookbook, Americans Cook!, is the brainchild of Westchester, NY girl scout troop leader Felice Kaufman.   The cause has multiple facets.  One is supporting the Girl Scouts troop but another effect of this effort is exposing these girls to cooking.  While generations past may have merely been concerned with getting their children to eat their vegetables, in today’s world we have young adults who don’t know anything about cooking!  I’ve had conversations with people in their 20’s asking how to cook the most basic items; like cooking dry boxed pasta!  Obesity and general health issues are increasing while our eating habits seem to continue to decline.  Sure, just because you cook your own food doesn’t mean what you eat will be low in fat, low in calories and high in nutrition but at least you have control over it.

Getting our children (and young adults) to cook involves many steps and no single simple solution exists.  Having said that, I applaud Felice Kaufman for envisioning and executing a creative project for these girls that will not only help them raise money but will also open their eyes to the world of cooking…