Today I’m sharing an informative interview that explains how to become a cooking instructor and offer kids’ cooking classes. I recently spoke with Jan Pinnington of Healthy Hands Cooking, who outlines how this extra income opportunity might work for you.
In 2011 Jan noticed that her children lacked basic kitchen skills and were drifting toward unhealthy eating habits.
She began teaching her daughter to cook, and soon more children were coming to her home for lessons. Parents would sometimes slip money into Jan’s apron to cover food and time, and she started to wonder if this could become a business.
That idea eventually became Healthy Hands Cooking.
Healthy Hands Cooking aims to fight childhood obesity by empowering adults to teach children about nutrition and healthy cooking through engaging classes, camps, and birthday parties.
The program offers a self-paced, 11-module online certification that can be completed from home. It guides future instructors through setting up a cooking business, covering licensing, permits, background checks, food safety, marketing, and more.
If you’re exploring a new business idea or looking for a side income, this could be worth investigating.
Read the interview below to learn more about how to become a cooking instructor and run kids’ cooking classes.
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How you can become a cooking instructor and run kids’ cooking classes
Please give us a little background on yourself and how you started your cooking instructor business.
I stumbled into this business to solve a problem at home. In 2011 I was rushing to get the kids to activities while trying to make dinner. I asked my 11-year-old to crack six eggs into a bowl, and she looked at me as if I had two heads. At her age I was already helping make full meals, so I offered to teach her. She loved it, and every Tuesday after school she and a few friends would come over to learn how to make healthy meals and snacks from scratch.
More children began asking to join, and some parents started leaving money to cover food and time. I realized this could be a business.
I eventually moved the classes from my home to a community center and developed an 8-hour Core Cooking program. It covers kitchen safety, cross-contamination, nutrition education, and recipe preparation across four two-hour classes that focus on healthy snacks, breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.
With a background in corporate communications, education in nutrition, and a passion for cooking, developing a structured way to teach these life skills felt natural.
A pivotal moment came when an eight-year-old asked where mashed potatoes came from; he thought they only came from a box. That realization motivated me to scale the idea, imagining what would happen if many instructors taught even a few kids each month.
I compiled years of experience into an online training program, Healthy Hands Cooking Certified Instructor Training, and that’s how Healthy Hands Cooking began.
Can you tell us more about this business idea? How does it work?
It’s a three-step process.
- Enroll online in the Healthy Hands Cooking Certified Instructor program and complete the 11-module training that explains business setup, licensing, permits, marketing, and media. Trainees also complete a food handling safety course and a background check (small additional fees apply). A private instructor community on Facebook provides peer support.
- After certification, an instructor can run independent classes or join the HHC Instructor Community for tools such as a customizable website, lesson plans, recipes, class scheduler, payment portal, and ongoing support. Membership pricing is available monthly or annually.
- Start scheduling classes. The training covers where to teach, how to structure classes, when to schedule them, and everything needed to launch the business.
How much can a new cooking instructor expect to make?
This business can be surprisingly profitable. One core principle is that instructors keep 100% of their earnings—there are no franchise or commission fees.
Here’s a typical example: an instructor runs a two-hour class weekly for 10 kids at a recommended $30 per student. Facility costs are often minimal or free (partner schools, community centers), and food/supplies run about $4 per student. Revenue for that class is $300, minus $40 for supplies, resulting in roughly $260 profit—about $130 per hour.
If an instructor teaches one class per week, that can be about $15,000 per year. Two classes per week is $30,000; three equals $45,000. Many instructors earn full-time income while working part-time hours. For example, one instructor generated $63,000 by running nine weeks of summer camps.
Payment processing fees for card transactions are minimal. If a facility charges rent, instructors can adjust class fees to cover that expense.
Instructors who want to expand can hire and train Certified Helpers to teach more students across multiple locations. The growth potential is flexible and scalable.
Is this a full-time job or a part-time one?
It can be either. Instructors can keep it as a rewarding part-time side business or build it into a larger operation. The schedule is flexible, so instructors can tailor the commitment to their own availability.
What do you like about this business?
I love empowering others to run their own businesses while contributing to child health and nutrition education. Many families today lack basic home-cooking skills, and school home-economics programs are rare. Teaching children these skills is both impactful and meaningful.
We currently have hundreds of instructors and aim to train many more to expand the program’s reach and impact.
How can a person start their own kids’ cooking classes?
Start by visiting the Healthy Hands Cooking website and watching the instructional webinar to see what’s included and how to get started. If questions remain, contact the team by email for guidance.
How much does it cost to start and maintain this business?
Initial costs include a one-time instructor certification fee of $497, a background check (around $15), and a food safety handling course (about $17.45 in the U.S.; prices vary by country). Annual or monthly community membership options start at affordable rates for maintaining certification and accessing tools.
Instructors also typically purchase liability insurance and may buy an Instructor Starter Kit (approx. $195) that includes manuals, apron, cutting boards, knives, measuring tools, and other supplies. Total first-year expenses average around $1,500, which can often be recouped by running a single summer camp.
Compared to franchise alternatives that require tens of thousands of dollars, this model is a low-cost entry into the kids’ cooking education market.
Are there any tips for someone who wants to try this?
This opportunity suits anyone who loves cooking and working with kids—stay-at-home parents, teachers, nutrition graduates, entrepreneurs, grandparents, and wellness advocates have all become instructors.
I suggest finding a local class using the website and attending to get a feel for the program structure. The Healthy Hands Cooking Facebook page also showcases instructor activities and class highlights.
What can someone learn from your instruction?
Completing the certified instructor training prepares a person to launch their own program. Classes are portable and can be taught in homes, schools, churches, gyms, grocery stores, wellness centers, and more. Some instructors secure employment contracts, while others prefer self-employment. Both for-profit and nonprofit models work well.
Instructors can also expand their offerings under their business umbrella—examples include kids’ yoga, art classes, or specialized cooking topics like raw or vegan cooking. The model supports creativity, flexibility, and fun while building a meaningful business.
Are you interested in learning how to become a cooking instructor and run kids’ cooking classes?