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University of Florida

Free family literacy and nutrition program expands statewide reach, adds Type 2 diabetes prevention


  • The UF Books & Cooks literacy and nutrition program is expanding to more counties and will include information on Type 2 diabetes prevention. 
  • Participants say the program has boosted their children’s reading abilities and opened a new love for cooking. 
  • The program began as a collaboration between UF/IFAS and the UF Lastinger Center for Learning.

Suzuki Seymore never expected her daughter to develop a love for cooking, but these days, she creates fruit shish kebabs and burrito bowls like a mini chef-in-training. 

Seymore, a Gainesville single mother, attributes her daughter’s new passion for cooking to the University of Florida nutrition and literacy program, Books & Cooks. The program teaches healthy nutrition habits and literacy skills by providing families with free nutrition-themed books and lessons centered around cooking, nutrient-rich food choices and how food can be fun and build connections. 

“The books side of Books & Cooks also exposed her to a lot of words she otherwise wouldn’t often come across,” she said. “It’s really fostered a love of reading.” 

The Books & Cooks program is a partnership between the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and the UF Lastinger Center in the College of Education. Books & Cooks is a free 12-week in-person and online literacy and nutrition program.   It doubles as an educational outreach initiative in partnership with New Worlds Reading and a research study designed to learn about what type of resources best serve Florida’s families. 

 

“We know parenting is demanding and exhausting, and we want to give them manageable suggestions for reinforcing healthy dietary choices and family mealtime behaviors focused on connection and fun.” —Jessica Hart, assistant director of the Books & Cooks program

The program has recently expanded into more areas in Florida, including Alachua, Broward, Clay, Duval, Franklin, Gadsden, Hillsborough, Leon, Nassau, Polk and Wakulla counties. Beyond Florida, Books & Cooks is now being offered in one county in Arkansas, administered by the University of Arkansas. In addition to new locations, Books & Cooks will also  now also include topics of Type 2 diabetes prevention in adults and children, as well as using creativity kits and physical activity to foster family engagement and interaction throughout the series. More than 500 families have participated in the program so far. 

“We believe that parents are their child’s first and best teachers,” said Jessica Hart, assistant director of the Books & Cooks program. “We know parenting is demanding and exhausting, and we want to give them manageable suggestions for reinforcing healthy dietary choices and family mealtime behaviors focused on connection and fun.” 

The Books & Cooks program provides families with books, boxes of fruits and vegetables and reading and nutrition activities weekly. Participating families attend in-person sessions and receive online support, as well as take part in two community events focused on storytelling, family wellbeing and creativity through the arts.  

Literacy programming varies based on the child’s age. The curriculum aligns with state English Language Arts standards and includes books about food, a diabetes-friendly cookbook and learning real-world applications, such as preparing balanced meals and building healthy habits. 

“We’ve heard from families that this has been overwhelmingly positive for them,” said David Diehl, UF/IFAS associate professor in the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences. “We’ve received feedback on how this has been a trajectory-changing experience for their families.” 

For Seymore, she’s proud to see her daughter blossom into her newfound love of cooking. 

She said the lessons have taught her daughter about the variety of foods and recipes available, about practical skills like chopping fruits and vegetables and has helped with patience – after all, a watched pot never boils. 

“I want her to have that independence and the joy of being in the kitchen because having people taste your food, it’s an honor,” she said. “It really widened her desire to try different foods. And it really deepened our family bonds. It created a new layer of motherhood for me because I get to see her face light up as she discovers new skills and gains confidence.”  

The program is funded in part by the UF/IFAS Projects Linking Agriculture and Therapeutic Medicine for Every Diet (PLANTMED) seed funding program, the UF Lastinger Center, the UF Diabetes Institute and UF Health.  

To learn more about participating in the Books & Cooks program, please email booksandcooks@ifas.ufl.edu.