Building Confidence Through Food Education
Food is a wonderful conduit for nurturing culture and building up community. We got to see this firsthand at a Cultural Night community event in April at the Mamele’awt Indigenous Education Centre hosted by VYPER (Visionary Youth Peers for Equity and Revitalization), where community members gathered to celebrate culture, connection, and food. Alongside the evening’s activities Archway Food Security programs were there to engage with the community through an interactive food display. We featured an ingredient that isn’t always familiar to everyone; chickpeas.
Each month, we are spotlighting a food item regularly found in the monthly food provisions available through the Archway Food Bank, or low-cost food items, to help individuals and families learn new ways to use and prepare new recipes. Many pantry staples are nutritious and versatile, but without ideas or recipes, they can sometimes go unused. Through food education, recipe sharing, and sampling opportunities, we aim to make cooking feel more approachable, creative, and empowering.
For April, we wanted to expand knowledge and perception around chickpeas.
At the event, we surprised participants with a sweet chickpea treat. Instead of serving them in a traditional savoury dish, we introduced attendees to chickpea blondies; a nutritious dessert alternative that uses chickpeas to add protein and fibre. The goal was not only to provide a tasty sample, but also to show how affordable or unfamiliar ingredients can be transformed into something unexpected and enjoyable.
A teenager stopped by the table and decided to try a sample. Like many others, he was surprised to learn the dessert was made with chickpeas.
After tasting the sample, he said, “This is good!”
We talked about the how simple the recipe was to make at home. We, and provided him with his own copy which he was excited to try himself. He exclaimed, “I love to bake!”
“I love to bake!”
That moment captured exactly why these educational opportunities matter.
A single recipe became more than just a snack. It became a chance to try something new, gain confidence in the kitchen, and discover joy through cooking. By highlighting low-cost, nutritious ingredients from our monthly hampers, we hope to inspire creativity and reduce uncertainty around unfamiliar foods. Simple opportunities like this one provide practical tools that families can use in their everyday lives to support increased nutrition and overall wellness.
Food security is not only about access to food, it’s also about knowledge, confidence, and the ability to turn simple ingredients into meaningful meals and experiences.
This was a reminder that even small interactions can have lasting impact.
Sometimes, all it takes is one sample, one recipe, and one encouraging conversation to try things in a new and different way.
As we recognize the importance of food education and making informed and sustainable food choices, a new staple food item will be featured once a month for the year. We’d love to hear your ideas about new ways to enjoy these pantry staples. Together, we hope to revitalize and inspire different ways to prepare staple food items available at the Food Bank and ways to utilize low-cost foods in ways that benefit all.
If you have a recipe to share, we’d love to hear it. Maybe your recipe can be featured next time!
Please submit recipes to foodjustice@archway.ca
Try the recipe for yourself here: Chickpea Blondies – The Original Famous Recipe!