Recipes and Reads Culinary Labs

Recipes & Reads Culinary Lab workshops serve up comprehensive, culinary literacy programs that include hands-on demonstrations of food and nutritional literacy; food acquisition methods; food handling, hygiene and safety; culture and history of food; and consumer cost-saving techniques and meal stretching. Each of the culinary lab workshops may include the use of fully stocked mobile, kitchen carts to aid in these food-related demonstrations. The labs are strategically located at library branches throughout the county and serve all ages. Registration may be required, at some locations, for Recipes and Reads Culinary Lab workshops.

August 2026 R&RCL

Healthy Food Choices - Back to School

August is here, which means school is back in session! Besides purchasing needed school supplies, now is the time to dust off lunchboxes and think about what to pack for lunches. Healthy lunches provide students with energy for focusing on schoolwork. A healthy lunch should include protein, fruit, vegetable, dairy, and whole grain. While it looks like a lot, with a little planning school lunches can be easy task. Meal prep can happen on Sunday for a week’s worth of lunches, or by cooking a little extra each night to add into lunch for the next day.

Roasted Chicken Ranch Wraps

Ingredients

• 1 cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt
• 3/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp dried dill
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 cup cooked chicken, shredded
• 2 TBS shredded cheese
• 1 large tortilla
• Optional – Roasted red peppers, dill pickle slices, pineapple

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, mix yogurt, garlic powder, onion powder, dill, salt, and Worcestershire sauce together. Set aside.
2. In different bowl, mix the shredded chicken with 2 TBS of the yogurt ranch mix as well as the shredded cheese until combined.
3. Place the tortilla on a flat surface and place the chicken mixture in the middle along with optional toppings. Fold and tuck in the sides before rolling tightly. Wrap with parchment paper or plastic wrap and then slice in half.
4. Pack chicken wrap in lunch bag with favorite fruit and veggies as sides. Be sure to include an ice pack to keep cool.

Note: Ranch dip can be stored in an air-tight container in a refrigerator for up to three days.

Image credit: Image by NoName_13 from Pixabay.