We’re in an obesity epidemic and most people don’t know how to cook even very basic meals.
Make space for it, squish other classes if you need. Make it mandatory, everyone has to take it. Maybe even ongoing through multiple grades.
Edit: Rice, beans, and even basic meats are cheap. To eat healthy you don’t need your meal to be 100% Bell peppers and tomatoes.
I say this is a skill that’s lacking. That’s why I say cooking class and not nutrition class. I want cooking with a stove, oven, and food.
Food deserts exist but should be getting better with grocery delivery. Mental health is real. But you can’t start on any of this without being able to cook.
This really hit home for me over pandemic, where I was suddenly preparing more food at home instead of going out. Even though I’ve cooked all my life, doing so more often helped make it faster, easier, more natural. Less of a chore, more imagination