(If you don’t want to read the whole story, here’s my point: Next time you grill out think about inviting the neighbor kid or family with no dad in the picture to come over to watch, learn, and eat. Chances are he or she may never be exposed to the joys of grilling if you don't.)
I teach History and Career Skills to high school kids with learning problems. Nothing too severe, they’re just not quite able to keep up in a regular classroom. Over 90% of our students come from a poor socio-economic background. And about 60-70% of them only have one parent in their life, usually the mother.
I’m getting ready to start my 29th year with teaching these types of kids and I’ve noticed a couple of things. Out of the 80+ students I see, less than 5 say grilling happens at home. And only 1 or 2 of those say they get involved with it. For so many of them there is no father/man in their lives. That tells me that with this segment of the population the huge majority will grow up not knowing the joy of live fire cooking and the great flavors you can only get from the grill.
So a couple of years ago I figured out a way to incorporate and share my love of grilling with these kids who have been missing out. I first brought vegetable gardening into my lessons once a week as a way to promote healthier eating, as well as a good hobby for leisure time. Of course getting kids to eat vegetables can be a challenge, so I came up with a plan and I wrote a grant for 10 grills and supplies. This year will be the 3rd year of my classes growing vegetables, and then teaching the kids how to cook them on the grill for great flavor. We save up money and add in proteins a couple of times a year as a treat. The kids love it and they are learning skills they can use for a lifetime.
So if you know of a kid or family who is in the same situation, think about inviting them over the next time you’re grilling. Share your skill set that we all take for granted. There’s a whole generation of kids who can benefit and will be thankful for the opportunity to learn from you.
*I had to purchase Kingsford grills the first time. They're wearing out and I'm going to work on getting Webers this time.
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Topic: Keep Grilling Alive (Read 2078 times)
