On July 14, 2026, AVSI Venezuela presented “Flavors of Wind and Mountain”, a school and community cookbook created to celebrate the culinary heritage of Falcón State and promote healthy and sustainable eating practices in schools.
The book brings together recipes that are representative of the communities involved in the School Meals Programme, turning local knowledge and traditions into a tool for nutrition education. The cookbook was developed through a participatory process involving the School Meals Teams from 82 educational institutions across the municipalities of Los Taques, Falcón, Federación, and Sucre.
Communities themselves shared recipes connected to their history and territory. AVSI’s nutrition team then complemented them with nutritional analyses and “Nutritips”, short educational resources designed to help students, families, and school staff better understand the nutritional value of food and adopt responsible practices for managing resources.
The cookbook is therefore a tool that brings together food, education, and culture. Local recipes help preserve Falcón’s culinary heritage, encourage greater attention to food waste management, and strengthen community participation in school life.
The initiative also involved school staff: 90% of those surveyed said they felt motivated to prepare the sustainable recipes from the cookbook both at school and at home. This finding shows how the initiative can continue to influence everyday practices beyond activities carried out within schools.
Representatives from OCHA, higher education institutions, the Falcón State College of Nutritionists, and AVSI-supported schools attended the launch, together with other stakeholders working on food security.
The presentation of the cookbook provided an opportunity for institutions, schools, and communities to come together around a shared commitment to promoting healthy and sustainable school nutrition while valuing the knowledge, traditions, and cultural identity of Falcón’s communities.
