Cooking Up Good Health: A Taste of Health, Learning, and Community at Aldine ISD

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On Thursday, May 1, Aldine ISD’s Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Department brought their Family and Community University (FCUniversity) 2024-25 school year to a close with a celebration that was as flavorful as it was meaningful.

For the first time this school year, Cooking Up Good Health, a cooking class offered by FCUniversity, was held in person. The energy in the room reflected how much everyone enjoyed sharing space, stories, and food. It was a true celebration of community and learning.

Cooking Up Good Health results from a partnership with organizations dedicated to community well-being: Bite of Hope, Cities for Better Health Houston, the Institute for Spirituality and Health, the Houston Health Department, Klaus Madsen Health Solutions, and FCUniversity.

For over two years, these partners have worked together to offer a program that blends hands-on cooking with valuable lessons about nutrition, chronic disease prevention, and mental health awareness.

The dynamic format sets the class apart from your standard cooking class. The chef demonstrates each recipe, and health experts share practical health tips tied to the ingredients and meals being prepared. This empowers parents to make informed choices and explore better options for feeding their families.

“If there’s one class that genuinely captures the spirit of FCUniversity, it’s this one,” said Ivan Tamayo, FACE specialist and FCUniversity leader. “It nourishes more than just appetites — it builds bridges across cultures, supports families, and reminds us that education can happen anywhere, even around a shared table.”

To make it more accessible, the class supports bilingual families. Each session is offered twice: once in English and once in Spanish. Many parents taking ESL classes join the English version to strengthen their language skills in a comfortable and supportive setting. This inclusive approach ensures that all parents, regardless of their language proficiency, can participate and benefit from the class. The kitchen becomes more than a place to cook — it becomes a space for connection, growth, and learning.

FACE regularly brings courses to its FCUniversity program to promote community and unity for its parents. Classes for the 2025-26 school year will begin on Sept. 1. To stay informed, click here.