What is Nourishment Beyond the Plate?

Nourishment Beyond the Plate is a program through Kelly’s Kitchen (a 501c3 non-profit organization) that facilitates a four-month series. This series provides participants with cooking instruction, ingredients, kitchen supplies, and independent living skill building for community members with disabilities. We pride ourselves on creating a program that focuses on the intersection of food justice and disability justice, with intentional thought put into cultural competency in the recipes chosen .

This program provides community members with disabilities with the resources, skills, confidence, and hands-on application practice to create accessible kitchen spaces in their home and build self-reliance to make healthy one-pot recipes to nourish themselves, their family, and their friends.

All participants will be provided with an accessible cooking kit that includes:

• a 10-pack variety of cooking utensils

• an induction cooktop

• A large, high-sided pan with a lid for multi-purpose cooking

• A cutting board (accessible cutting boards available upon request)

• A rocker knife

• Tablespoon and teaspoon measuring spoons

• An oversized backpack to keep their kitchen utensils in OR use to pack them up and bring during a natural disaster or emergency where someone may need to temporarily relocate

All participants will receive their cooking kit and an overview of how to use the provided kitchen tools. Cooking classes can be provided virtually over Zoom or in-person depending on the partner organization we are working with and their facility capabilities.

Kelly’s Kitchen will collaborate with local culinary programs or caterers to ensure that ingredients for all meals are sourced locally, prepared by individuals with ServSafe certificate in a commercial kitchen, and delivered to participants to barriers to participation and resource access.

Nourishment Beyond the Plate is more than a food delivery service or option to receive accessible kitchen tools and equipment. This program helps build confidence and skill building when it comes to meal preparation; an essential skill needed for independence.