I speak with Lynn Fredericks of FamilyCook Productions about making health behaviors come alive in the kitchen and the community.

What if the key to a healthier family—and a more connected community—was right in our kitchens? That’s exactly what Lynn Fredericks believes. As the founder of FamilyCook Productions, she’s spent nearly 30 years transforming how families, schools, and entire communities think about nutrition education.

Lynn joined me on The Nourished Child Podcast to share her powerful story, the evolution of her work, and the real-world impact of helping families cook, learn, and grow together.

From Overwhelmed Mom to Nutrition Trailblazer

Lynn’s journey into community nutrition education started in an unexpected place: her own kitchen. As a newly single mom raising two young boys, she found herself overwhelmed, exhausted, and searching for connection.

One night, with a toddler clinging to her leg, she handed him some basil and asked for help making dinner. What happened next changed everything.

“I discovered he was proud of helping. He was calmer, more connected—and we had fun. That moment sparked everything.”

That small moment of collaboration and joy planted the seed for what would become FamilyCook Productions, a nonprofit organization focused on hands-on culinary education to improve public health.

Building a Movement: The Birth of FamilyCook Productions

Since 1995, Lynn has designed evidence-based culinary nutrition programs that now reach families across the country. With over 370,000 participants and a train-the-trainer model embedded in schools, clinics, and community centers, her organization is a leader in sustainable behavior change.

She’s also published over two dozen peer-reviewed articles, presented at scientific conferences, and authored award-winning books like Cooking Time Is Family Time.

But behind all the accolades is one simple mission: to help people enjoy healthy food and connect over it—no matter their age or background.

Why Hands-On Learning Works: The Secret Sauce

One of the most fascinating parts of our conversation was Lynn’s research-backed framework of 10 experiential drivers of behavior change. These aren’t just lessons about nutrition—they’re experiences that stick.

Here are a few of those drivers:

• Challenge, Success & Celebration: Cooking stretches our skills, but succeeding builds confidence—and celebrating brings joy.
  
• Palate Development: Repeated exposure to new flavors helps expand taste preferences over time.
  
• Skill Reinforcement: Learning knife skills or how to plan a meal builds independence.
  
• Home Environment Transfer: Taking classroom experiences home makes changes sustainable.
  
• Collaboration & Peer Support: Cooking together builds community and social support.
  
• Recipe Flexibility: Teaching food “concepts” rather than rigid recipes empowers creativity.
  

“People don’t change from being told what to eat. They change when they feel capable, supported, and successful.”

Spotlight on Early Childhood: Nibble with Willow

One standout program is Nibble with Willow, which targets preschoolers. With a bunny mascot named Willow, kids explore food through weekly garden-themed lessons. They look at vegetables with magnifying glasses, cook simple recipes, and take “bunny bites” to try new foods—no pressure, just joyful discovery.

This program, rooted in early childhood development principles, helps young kids form positive food relationships and simultaneously engages parents during a time when they’re most involved in their child’s habits.

What About Community Health?

Lynn’s work goes far beyond individual families. By partnering with schools and healthcare systems, she’s seen real, measurable changes in community health outcomes—from improved eating behaviors in teens to enhanced cooking skills in adults managing chronic diseases.

Yet, she acknowledges that larger systems still need work—especially in clinical settings. Nutrition programs aren’t always integrated into electronic medical records, making it harder for doctors to “prescribe” cooking and nutrition education as treatment. Her wish? For food and nutrition classes to be as accessible and standard as any other medical recommendation.

Changing the Narrative Around Food

Amid the online noise about “clean eating” vs. “junk food,” Lynn says that today’s kids and parents actually know more than we think.

“Children are sharper than we give them credit for. They know what’s healthy. They just need the tools, the exposure, and the fun to embrace it.”

Her approach avoids food shaming and focuses on what to do, not what not to eat. That shift in tone makes a huge difference—especially for families who have experienced judgment in the past.

What Parents Should Know About Nutrition Education

Lynn’s parting words for parents were simple but powerful:

• Nutrition education can be fun and delicious
  
• Cooking together builds deeper family connections
  
• Kids are capable of learning cooking skills early
  
• Parents don’t have to do it all—kids can help too!

Listen to the Full Episode!