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Recipe Format

 The format of the Cooking Up Fun recipes is purposeful. It supports program goals and may increase success for those who have limited experience with recipes:

• Ingredients and measurements. A list of ingredients includes two types of information – food items and the amount of each item. Listing ingredients first defines the task of organizing all ingredients before measuring them. This format makes it easier to discuss substitutions or variations by focusing attention on the food items. To emphasize the concept of a “core” recipe that can be modified, the format uses basic terms (milk) and minimizes descriptors (skim, low-fat); descriptors are listed after the main food item (cheese, Swiss). One form (tomato, fresh) is stated with other forms (canned tomatoes) included in variations. It shifts all preparation tasks from ingredient descriptors (finely chopped onion) to the step-by-step instructions.

• Variations. Recipes include variations to generate discussion about how a basic recipe can be modified. There are millions of recipes but many are variations of a common “core” recipe. A format that includes variations promotes creativity and flexibility in food preparation to meet individual food choice situations. It promotes conversations about substitutions that will change the nutrient composition of the recipe such as reducing fat or sodium, or increasing calcium or fiber. Or conversations might focus on availability, seasonality, or cost.

• Step-by-step instructions. Numbering each task, breaks the preparation into a sequenced series of tasks. Short chunks of information are easier to read and follow than a long paragraph. Numbers provide points of reference for questions or discussion.