The Ultimate Teaching Kitchen Toolkit

The TKC is proud to present The Ultimate Teaching Kitchen Toolkit, a comprehensive guide to launching, managing, and growing a teaching kitchen program.

Preview the First 10 Pages!

Two Purchase Options (Limited time pricing until 5/31/25--act now before prices increase):

1. Digital Toolkit Access Only: $99
2. Digital Toolkit Access + 1-Year TKC Professional Membership + Invitation to a Virtual Facilitated Discussion with Authors: $129 

If you are a current TKC Professional, Organization, or Corporate Member, please check your email for your discount code or reach out to info@teachingkitchens.org.

The toolkit download is for individual use only. By purchasing the toolkit, you’re supporting the TKC’s  mission to improve lives through transformative culinary and lifestyle education. If others in your organization want access, please contact us to discuss group discount options.

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About the Toolkit

This resource compiles best practices from leading teaching kitchen programs across medical, community, academic, and corporate settings, offering both foundational principles and practical strategies. Whether you're designing a new program or refining an existing one, this toolkit provides adaptable insights to meet your unique needs.

Over the past two years, registered dietitians (RDs) from the TKC’s Nutrition Committee collaborated with chefs, physicians, and other professionals to gather and refine these best practices. The result is a 100+-page resource packed with insights from six established teaching kitchen programs—Alberta Health Services/University of Calgary, Boston Medical Center, Compass Group North America, Free Library of Philadelphia, UTHealth School of Public Health, and the Veterans Health Administration. This toolkit covers every aspect of teaching kitchens, from program planning in Part One to effective facilitation in Part Two. It also features a robust appendix and a curated list of relevant literature and references. Designed for flexibility, each section allows you to start where you need help most—empowering you to build a successful, high-impact teaching kitchen program in any setting.

Comprehensive Content

• Step-by-step guidance for starting, managing, and sustaining a TK program
• Practical resources for curriculum development, team building, and kitchen safety
• Marketing strategies to attract and engage diverse participants
• Tools for securing funding, budgeting, and demonstrating program impact
• Templates, checklists, and equipment lists to simplify planning and operations
• Techniques to foster participant engagement and retention

Intended Audience

This toolkit is designed for anyone passionate about improving health and wellness through teaching kitchens. Whether you’re a RD, chef, educator, healthcare provider, or community leader, this resource offers practical tools and strategies to help you create, manage, and grow a successful TK program.

While the toolkit was developed with RDs in mind, intending to address knowledge gaps in nutrition courses or dietetic internships, it will be equally valuable for chefs, healthcare providers, educators, and professionals in clinical care, community health, foodservice, and beyond. No matter your role, you’ll find actionable insights tailored to your setting and goals.