National City near San Diego holds the dubious distinction of having the highest rate of childhood obesity and diabetes cases in California. But a Latina-led movement to educate locals is helping to change the statistics by teaching others how to transform cooking techniques and make better food choices. Graduates of the classes held at Olivewood Gardens Learning Center, a beautiful late nineteenth-century home set among gardens and lovely landscapes, are known as Kitchenistas.
The Kitchenistas dips into some of the classes to show chefs introducing fresh ingredients and new flavors, sharing fundamentals of home cooking, making heart-healthy tacos, using a tortilla press, and preparing other wholesome dishes. Along the way, we meet some of the students, teachers, and others—including a physician who is committed to culinary medicine, known as the practice of helping patients avoid illnesses by making better food decisions.
Most of the women who comprise the bulk of the classes know how to cook but come to learn new techniques. The chefs, teachers, and students are engaging and enthusiastic on graduation day. Each participant must bring a dish they’ve made and speak to the crowd, most showing appreciation for community learning.
The program skips around a bit, hopscotching between classes and home scenes to conclude at a family dinner in Tijuana, Mexico. Closing statistics show that by 2020, more than 275 people graduated from the program with some of the Kitchenistas going on to become city officials, nonprofit leaders, small business owners, and neighborhood mentors.
Despite the somewhat scattered approach of director David Romero’s production, the film is helpful for showing that change is possible and cooking healthy is a common goal. A strong optional purchase for developing food, health & wellness, and environment film collections.
Discover more titles for your film collection in our list of food movies.