Evergreen Public Schools has partnered with the Clark County Food Bank and Student Nutrition and Cooking (SNAC), to offer a Cooking Matters class for students. The class teaches nutrition knowledge and how to apply it to cooking nutritious and affordable recipes. The program is staffed by AmeriCorps nutritionists and being piloted at Cascade and Pacific Middle Schools this year.

Cooking Matters is a free six-week course that teaches students and their families how to cook healthy food on a budget. Participants meet once a week for 2 hours to learn about nutrition, as well as cook together. At the end of each class, participant gets to take home a bag of food so that they can make one of the recipes at home.

At the end of the six weeks, students host a Family Night and cook a meal for their parents and give a short nutrition presentation on topics taught in class. It is a great opportunity for kids to showcase their new skills to the family unit. Students that attend at least four classes, receive a certificate of graduation, a reusable shopping bag, a cutting board, and a Cooking Matters cookbook.