MASTERING their culinary skills while creating healthy meals is what 20 Park Ridge State High School students are learning to do in the Need for Feed program.
The year 8 and 9 students are taking part in the eight-week Diabetes Queensland program, which has them cooking a variety of meals every week.
From pizza, bolognaise and Thai curry to muffins, muesli bars and smoothies, the key to these meals is they are healthy and jam-packed with vegetables and fruit.
Home economics teachers Ami-Lee Tully and Alyssa Thompson have been running the classes once a week after school, planning what will be cooked and sourcing the ingredients.
Ms Tully said the students had gained valuable knowledge and skills in the program, as well as an apron and a recipe book to keep.
"We cover nutrition, what the students should be eating and they analyse their own diets," she said.
"A lot of the students have tried vegetables they have never had before, which is just fantastic.
"It really is about creating healthy versions of meals and building the students confidence in preparing healthy food."
Year 8 students Tori Kelley and Demikah Semdall said they loved cooking each week and had learnt a lot about how to cook different meals, as well as how not to burn food.
"I really enjoyed cooking spaghetti bolognaise and the curry," Demikah said.
"We made veggie muffins and they were amazing. I was surprised that it was good," Tori said.
Both girls cook at home and said they would definitely be making the recipes they had learnt in the program for their families.
The Need for Feed program costs $20 per student and is available for public and private school students in years 7 to 10.
For more information email needforfeed@diabetesqld.org.au