Stacie Archer’s Non-Profit Organization Teaches Families How to Shop for Healthy Food and Create Meals for $20 or Less
Stacie Archer, a single mom of three, understands the challenges of cooking healthy meals for a family on a tight budget. Determined to help other families facing similar struggles, Archer founded Get Cooking, a non-profit organization that aims to educate low-income families on how to shop for nutritious food and prepare meals for $20 or less. Archer firmly believes that healthy, home-cooked dinners are essential for children’s development, improving their academic performance, fostering family relationships, and combating child obesity. Through her organization, Archer seeks to empower families to make healthier choices and overcome the perception that cooking healthy is expensive and unappetizing.
The Start of a Mission
In 2016, Archer launched a food blog called Seven Plates, where she shared cooking tips and recipes specifically designed for families on a tight budget. Each recipe was budget-friendly, feeding a family of four for under $20. Archer aimed to dispel the notion that healthy cooking is costly and unpalatable, challenging families’ reliance on frozen meals laden with sodium and preservatives. As her blog gained popularity, Archer realized the potential to make an even greater impact.
Teaming Up for a Bigger Impact
Archer joined forces with award-winning chefs to expand her reach and create a more significant change in low-income communities. Today, she co-hosts virtual interactive cooking classes for families living in subsidized housing in Miami and Orlando, Florida. These classes, held twice a month, cater to families in Verde Gardens, a townhome community in Miami for formerly homeless residents, and families in Orlando’s poorest neighborhoods, Parramore. To ensure accessibility, meal kits containing all the necessary ingredients are delivered to participants’ doorsteps a few hours before the class, courtesy of Second Harvest Food Pantry.
Empowering Families in the Kitchen
At precisely 5 p.m., Archer begins the cooking class, welcoming around 40 families each time. Parents and children eagerly watch as she guides them through the recipe step by step. Archer encourages questions and readily provides explanations when needed. The class’s timing ensures that children can actively participate in the cooking process, as they are home from school. Archer finds it gratifying to witness families cooking together, with children confidently handling tasks like cutting vegetables alongside their parents. Unlike traditional cooking demonstrations, these classes empower families to use their own kitchens, many of whom have never used an oven or frying pan before.
Learning to Shop on a Budget
Archer’s classes not only teach families the importance of nutritious food but also how to shop for these ingredients on a limited budget. By physically handling the ingredients and witnessing the cooking process, participants gain confidence in their ability to replicate the recipes for $20 or less. Archer hopes that families will take the skills and knowledge they acquire and apply them when grocery shopping in the future. Her approach follows the adage, “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.”
Conclusion:
Stacie Archer’s non-profit organization, Get Cooking, is making a significant impact on low-income families by empowering them to cook healthy meals on a budget. Through virtual cooking classes and the distribution of meal kits, Archer teaches families the skills and knowledge needed to shop for nutritious ingredients and create meals for $20 or less. By breaking down barriers and instilling confidence in their cooking abilities, Archer is not only improving families’ access to healthy food but also equipping them with lifelong skills. As the families continue their culinary journeys, they have the power to make informed choices and prioritize their health and well-being.
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