How much I have learned since September!

From Guest Blogger Meg Wexler, Brainfood Fall Intern...

It is officially the holiday season, and all of us at Brainfood are busy with preparations for our big Holiday Celebration. Participants are getting ready to show their friends and families how much they have learned, and I think I’m just beginning to realize how much I have learned since September.

As soon as I heard about Brainfood this August, I knew I wanted to be a part of the organization. There was only one small problem – I wasn’t particularly experienced in the kitchen. Still, with a background in youth enrichment and a passion for all things edible, I came to class excited to meet the participants and hone my own skills. In many ways, I think being able to learn knife skills and other techniques alongside the students made it easier for us to connect. I have sought culinary advice from volunteers and students alike!

Learning these skills was surprisingly easy, and I think the students will agree. I have my own hypothesis for why this might be. Brainfood classes are full of mutual respect that comes from every participant’s eagerness to learn. When the students were asked to reflect on their time at Brainfood so far, many of them marveled at how necessary and effective teamwork could be. At Brainfood, no man is left behind – not even the intern who can barely tell when cookies are ready to come out of the oven!

I have also learned a thing or two about creativity. When I arrived at Columbia Heights one Thursday I saw an array of vegetables, fruits, meats, and condiments – Make-Your-Own Sandwich Day! I was skeptical. On the cart, the peanut butter was awfully close to the turkey bacon, and the pears and banana peppers were placed right next to each other. All of us got a chance to make sandwiches using guidelines taken from our lesson on the Food Pyramid. Some students took gutsy risks, and everyone was eager to try some of the more unique concoctions. Bravery is key to creativity in the kitchen, and, as I have begun to realize, to creativity in general.

I’m very much looking forward to volunteering again in the spring!

- Meg, Brainfood Fall Intern

Meg Wexler is completing her senior year at George Washington University in DC.