Perceptions of Cooking Education among High School Students

Cooking is a basic life skill and promotes a more healthful diet. However, many young adults lack cooking confidence. Eleven focus groups with 71 total participants were conducted to understand perceptions of cooking education among high school students. Students who had taken cooking classes displayed cooking confidence, developed additional non‐cooking‐related skills, and valued the courses. Students believed cooking is a life skill, would like to learn more skills and about cultural cuisines, and thought cooking classes should be offered, but not required for all high school students. Family and Consumer Sciences teachers and school administrators could use the results in advocating for cooking classes.