Cooking
Merit Badge Workbook
This workbook can help you but you still need to read the merit badge pamphlet.
The work space provided for each requirement should be used by the Scout to make notes for discussing the item with his counselor, not for
providing the full and complete answers. Each Scout must do each requirement.
No one may add or subtract from the official requirements found in Boy Scout Requirements (Pub. 33216 – SKU 34765).
The requirements were last issued or revised in 2014 • This workbook was updated in October 2014.
Scout’s Name:__________________________________________
Unit: __________________________________________
Counselor’s Name: ______________________________________
Counselor’s Phone No.: ___________________________
http://www.USScouts.Org
•
http://www.MeritBadge.Org
Please submit errors, omissions, comments or suggestions about this workbook to:
[email protected]
Comments or suggestions for changes to the requirements for the merit badge should be sent to:
[email protected]
1. Do the following:
a. Explain to your counselor the most likely hazards you may encounter while participating in cooking activities and
what you should do to anticipate, help prevent, mitigate, and respond to these hazards.
Hazard
How to anticipate, help prevent, mitigate, and respond
Workbook © Copyright 2014 - U.S. Scouting Service Project, Inc. - All Rights Reserved
Requirements © Copyright, Boy Scouts of America (Used with permission.)
Cooking
Scout's Name: ________________________
b. Show that you know first aid for and how to prevent injuries or illnesses that could occur while preparing meals and
eating, including burns and scalds, cuts, choking, and allergic reactions.
Burns and scalds
Cuts
Choking
Allergic reactions
c. Describe how meat, fish, chicken, eggs, dairy products, and fresh vegetables should be stored, transported, and
properly prepared for cooking.
Meat
Fish
Chicken
Eggs
Dairy
Products
Cooking - Merit Badge Workbook
Page. 2 of 32
Cooking
Scout's Name: ________________________
Fresh
Vegetables
Explain how to prevent cross-contamination.
d. Describe the following food-related illnesses and tell what you can do to help prevent each from happening:
1. Salmonella
Prevention:
2. Staphylococcal aureus
Prevention:
3. Escherichia coli (E. coli)
Prevention:
4. Clostridium botulinum
(Botulism)
Prevention:
5. Campylobacter jejuni
Prevention:
Cooking - Merit Badge Workbook
Page. 3 of 32
Cooking
Scout's Name: ________________________
6. Hepatitis
Prevention:
7. Listeria monocytogenes
Prevention:
8. Cryptosporidium
Prevention:
9. Norovirus
Prevention:
e. Discuss with your counselor food allergies, food intolerance, food-related diseases, and your awareness of these
concerns.
Food allergies
Food
intolerance
Food-related
diseases
Cooking - Merit Badge Workbook
Page. 4 of 32
Cooking
Scout's Name: ________________________
2. Do the following:
a. Using the MyPlate food guide or the current USDA nutrition model, give five examples for EACH of the following
food groups, the recommended number of daily servings, and the recommended serving size:
Example
1.
Fruits
2.
Vegetables
3.
Grains
4.
Proteins
5.
Dairy
Daily servings
Serving Size
b. Explain why you should limit your intake of oils and sugars.
Cooking - Merit Badge Workbook
Page. 5 of 32
Cooking
Scout's Name: ________________________
c. Determine your daily level of activity and your caloric need based on your activity level.
Then, based on the MyPlate food guide, discuss with your counselor an appropriate meal plan for yourself for one
day.
d. Discuss your current eating habits with your counselor and what you can do to eat healthier, based on the MyPlate
food guide.
3. Do the following:
a. Discuss the following food label terms: calorie, fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrate, dietary
fiber, sugar, protein.
Calorie
Fat
Cooking - Merit Badge Workbook
Page. 6 of 32
Cooking
Scout's Name: ________________________
Saturated fat
Trans fat
Cholesterol
Sodium
Carbohydrate
Dietary fiber
Sugar
Protein
Explain how to calculate total carbohydrates and nutritional values for two servings, based on the serving size
specified on the label.
Cooking - Merit Badge Workbook
Page. 7 of 32
Cooking
Scout's Name: ________________________
b. Refer to “How to Read a Food Label” in the Cooking merit badge pamphlet, and name ingredients that help the
consumer identify the following allergens: peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, wheat, soy, and shellfish.
Ingredients
Peanuts
Tree nuts
Milk
Eggs
Wheat
Soy
Shellfish
4. Do the following:
a. Discuss EACH of the following cooking methods. For each one, describe the equipment needed and name at least
one food that can be cooked using that method: baking, boiling, pan frying, simmering, steaming, microwaving, and
grilling.
Method
Food
Equipment needed
How is food cooked?
Baking
Boiling
Pan frying
Simmering
Steaming
Microwaving
Grilling
Cooking - Merit Badge Workbook
Page. 8 of 32
Cooking
Scout's Name: ________________________
b. Discuss the benefits of using a camp stove on an outing vs. a charcoal or wood fire.
c. Discuss how the Outdoor Code and no-trace principles pertain to cooking in the outdoors.
Note: The meals prepared for Cooking merit badge requirements 5, 6, and 7 will count only toward fulfilling those
requirements and will not count toward rank advancement. Meals prepared for rank advancement may not
count toward the Cooking merit badge. You must not repeat any menus for meals actually prepared or cooked
in requirements 5, 6, and 7.
Cooking - Merit Badge Workbook
Page. 9 of 32
Cooking
Scout's Name: ________________________
5. Using the MyPlate food guide or the current USDA nutrition model, plan a menu for three full days of meals (three
breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners) plus one dessert. Your menu should include enough to feed yourself and at
least one adult, keeping in mind any special needs (such as food allergies) of those to be served. List the equipment and
utensils needed to prepare and serve these meals.
Day 1
BREAKFAST
Menu
Quantity
Calories
Equipment
Utensils
Fruits
Vegetables
Grains
Proteins
Dairy
LUNCH
Fruits
Vegetables
Grains
Proteins
Dairy
DINNER
Fruits
Vegetables
Grains
Proteins
Dairy
Cooking - Merit Badge Workbook
Page. 10 of 32
Cooking
Scout's Name: ________________________
Day 2
BREAKFAST
Menu
Quantity
Calories
Equipment
Utensils
Fruits
Vegetables
Grains
Proteins
Dairy
LUNCH
Fruits
Vegetables
Grains
Proteins
Dairy
DINNER
Fruits
Vegetables
Grains
Proteins
Dairy
Cooking - Merit Badge Workbook
Page. 11 of 32
Cooking
Scout's Name: ________________________
Day 3
BREAKFAST
Menu
Quantity
Calories
Equipment
Utensils
Fruits
Vegetables
Grains
Proteins
Dairy
LUNCH
Fruits
Vegetables
Grains
Proteins
Dairy
DINNER
Fruits
Vegetables
Grains
Proteins
Dairy
DESSERT
Cooking - Merit Badge Workbook
Page. 12 of 32
Cooking
Scout's Name: ________________________
Then do the following:
a. Create a shopping list for your meals showing the amount of food needed to prepare and serve each meal, and the
cost for each meal.
Menu Item
Components to purchase
Breakfast 1
Menu Item
Breakfast 3
Cooking - Merit Badge Workbook
Cost
Total Cost
Components to purchase
Breakfast 2
Menu Item
Quantity
Quantity
Cost
Total Cost
Components to purchase
Quantity
Cost
Total Cost
Page. 13 of 32
Cooking
Scout's Name: ________________________
Menu Item
Components to purchase
Lunch 1
Menu Item
Lunch 3
Cooking - Merit Badge Workbook
Cost
Total Cost
Components to purchase
Lunch 2
Menu Item
Quantity
Quantity
Cost
Total Cost
Components to purchase
Quantity
Cost
Total Cost
Page. 14 of 32
Cooking
Scout's Name: ________________________
Menu Item
Components to purchase
Dinner 1
Menu Item
Dinner 2
Cooking - Merit Badge Workbook
Quantity
Cost
Total Cost
Components to purchase
Quantity
Cost
Total Cost
Page. 15 of 32
Cooking
Scout's Name: ________________________
Menu Item
Components to purchase
Quantity
Dinner 3
b.
Cost
Total Cost
Share and discuss your meal plan and shopping list with your counselor.
c. Using at least five of the seven cooking methods from requirement 4, prepare and serve yourself and at least one
adult (parent, family member, guardian, or other responsible adult) one breakfast, one lunch, one dinner, and one
dessert from the meals you planned.*
Cooking methods used:
d.
Baking
Boiling
Pan frying
Steaming
Microwaving
Grilling
Simmering
Time your cooking to have each meal ready to serve at the proper time. Have an adult verify the preparation of the
meal to your counselor.
Breakfast No. ______ Date: ____________________ Adult’s verification: ______________________________
Lunch No. _________ Date: ____________________ Adult’s verification: ______________________________
Dinner No, ________ Date: ____________________ Adult’s verification: ______________________________
Cooking - Merit Badge Workbook
Page. 16 of 32
Cooking
Scout's Name: ________________________
e. After each meal, ask a person you served to evaluate the meal on presentation and taste, then evaluate your own
meal. Discuss what you learned with your counselor, including any adjustments that could have improved or
enhanced your meals. Tell how better planning and preparation help ensure a successful meal.
f.
Explain how you kept perishable foods safe and free from cross-contamination.
Cooking - Merit Badge Workbook
Page. 17 of 32
Cooking
Scout's Name: ________________________
*The meals for requirement 5 may be prepared on different days, and they need not be prepared
consecutively. The requirement calls for Scouts to plan, prepare, and serve one breakfast, one lunch, and
one dinner to at least one adult; those served need not be the same for all meals.
6. Using the MyPlate food guide or the current USDA nutrition model, plan a menu for your patrol or a similar size group of
up to eight youth, including you) for a camping trip. Include five meals AND at least one snack OR one dessert. List the
equipment and utensils needed to prepare and serve these meals.
Menu
Meal 1
Quantity
Calories
Equipment
Utensils
Fruits
Vegetables
Grains
Proteins
Dairy
Meal 2
Fruits
Vegetables
Grains
Proteins
Dairy
Cooking - Merit Badge Workbook
Page. 18 of 32
Cooking
Scout's Name: ________________________
Menu
Meal 3
Quantity
Calories
Equipment
Utensils
Fruits
Vegetables
Grains
Proteins
Dairy
Meal 4
Fruits
Vegetables
Grains
Proteins
Dairy
Cooking - Merit Badge Workbook
Page. 19 of 32
Cooking
Scout's Name: ________________________
Menu
Meal 5
Quantity
Calories
Equipment
Utensils
Fruits
Vegetables
Grains
Proteins
Dairy
Desert or
Snack
Then do the following:
a. Create a shopping list for your meals showing the amount of food needed to prepare and serve each meal, and the
cost for each meal.
Menu Item
Meal 1
Cooking - Merit Badge Workbook
Components to purchase
Quantity
Cost
Total Cost
Page. 20 of 32
Cooking
Scout's Name: ________________________
Menu Item
Components to purchase
Meal 2
Menu Item
Meal 3
Cooking - Merit Badge Workbook
Quantity
Cost
Total Cost
Components to purchase
Quantity
Cost
Total Cost
Page. 21 of 32
Cooking
Scout's Name: ________________________
Menu Item
Components to purchase
Meal 4
Menu Item
Snack or Dessert
Cooking - Merit Badge Workbook
Cost
Total Cost
Components to purchase
Meal 5
Menu Item
Quantity
Quantity
Cost
Total Cost
Components to purchase
Quantity
Cost
Total Cost
Page. 22 of 32
Cooking
b.
Scout's Name: ________________________
Share and discuss your meal plan and shopping list with your counselor.
c. In the outdoors, cook two of the meals you planned in requirement 6 using either a lightweight stove or a low-impact
fire. Use a different cooking method for each meal.** The same fireplace may be used for both meals. Serve this
meal to your patrol or a group of youth.
Meal 1________________Heat Source: ________________________ Date:___________________________
Meal 2________________Heat Source: ________________________ Date:___________________________
d. In the outdoors, cook one of the meals you planned in requirement 6.Use either a Dutch oven, OR a foil pack, OR
kabobs. Serve this meal to your patrol or a group of youth.**
Meal _________________Method: ____________________________ Date:___________________________
e. In the outdoors, prepare a dessert OR a snack and serve it to your patrol or a group of youth.**
Dessert or Snack:: _________________________________________ Date:___________________________
f. After each meal, have those you served evaluate the meal on presentation and taste, and then evaluate your own
meal.
Meal
Evaluation by those served
Presentation
Taste
Self Evaluation
Presentation
Taste
Meal 1
Meal 2
Cooking - Merit Badge Workbook
Page. 23 of 32
Cooking
Scout's Name: ________________________
Meal 3
Meal 4
Meal 5
Snack
Discuss what you learned with your counselor, including any adjustments that could have improved or enhanced
your meals. Tell how better planning and preparation help ensure successful outdoor cooking.
Cooking - Merit Badge Workbook
Page. 24 of 32
Cooking
Scout's Name: ________________________
g. Explain how you kept perishable foods safe and free from cross-contamination.
7. Using the MyPlate food guide or the current USDA nutrition model, plan a menu for trail hiking or backpacking that
includes one breakfast, one lunch, one dinner, and one snack. These meals must not require refrigeration and are to be
consumed by three to five people (including you). List the equipment and utensils needed to prepare and serve these
meals..
Menu
Breakfast
Quantity
Calories
Equipment
Utensils
Fruits
Vegetables
Grains
Proteins
Dairy
Cooking - Merit Badge Workbook
Page. 25 of 32
Cooking
Scout's Name: ________________________
Lunch
Menu
Quantity
Calories
Equipment
Utensils
Menu
Quantity
Calories
Equipment
Utensils
Fruits
Vegetables
Grains
Proteins
Dairy
Dinner
Fruits
Vegetables
Grains
Proteins
Dairy
Cooking - Merit Badge Workbook
Page. 26 of 32
Cooking
Scout's Name: ________________________
Snack
Menu
Quantity
Calories
Equipment
Utensils
Then do the following:
a. Create a shopping list for your meals showing the amount of food needed to prepare and serve each meal, and the
cost for each meal.
Menu Item
Breakfast
Cooking - Merit Badge Workbook
Components to purchase
Quantity
Cost
Total Cost
Page. 27 of 32
Cooking
Scout's Name: ________________________
Menu Item
Components to purchase
Lunch
Menu Item
Snack
Cooking - Merit Badge Workbook
Cost
Total Cost
Components to purchase
Dinner
Menu Item
Quantity
Quantity
Cost
Total Cost
Components to purchase
Quantity
Cost
Total Cost
Page. 28 of 32
Cooking
b.
Scout's Name: ________________________
Share and discuss your meal plan and shopping list with your counselor. Your plan must include how to repackage
foods for your hike or backpacking trip to eliminate as much bulk, weight, and garbage as possible.
c. While on a trail hike or backpacking trip, prepare and serve two meals and a snack from the menu planned for
requirement 7. At least one of those meals must be cooked over a fire, or an approved trail stove (with proper
supervision).**
Meal 1________________Heat Source: ________________________ Date:___________________________
Meal 2________________Heat Source: ________________________ Date:___________________________
Snack ________________Heat Source: ________________________ Date:___________________________
d. For each meal prepared in requirement 7c, use safe food-handling practices. Clean up equipment, utensils, and the
site thoroughly after each meal. Properly dispose of dishwater, and pack out all garbage.
Meal 1________________
Meal 2________________
Snack ________________
e. After each meal, have those you served evaluate the meal on presentation and taste, and then evaluate your own
meal.
Meal
Evaluation by those served
Presentation
Taste
Self Evaluation
Presentation
Taste
Meal 1
Meal 2
Snack
Cooking - Merit Badge Workbook
Page. 29 of 32
Cooking
Scout's Name: ________________________
Discuss what you learned with your counselor, including any adjustments that could have improved or enhanced
your meals. Tell how better planning and preparation help ensure successful trail hiking or backpacking meals.
**Where local regulations do not allow you to build a fire, the counselor may adjust the requirement to meet the
law. The meals in requirements 6 and 7 may be prepared for different trips and need not be prepared consecutively.
Scouts working on this badge in summer camp should take into consideration foods that can be obtained at the
camp commissary.
8.
Find out about three career opportunities in cooking.
1.
2.
3.
Select one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession.
Career:
Education:
Training:
Cooking - Merit Badge Workbook
Page. 30 of 32
Cooking
Scout's Name: ________________________
Experience:
Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you.
Requirement resources can be found here:
http://www.meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Cooking#Requirement resources
Cooking - Merit Badge Workbook
Page. 31 of 32
Important excerpts from the Guide To Advancement - 2015, No. 33088 (SKU-620573)
[1.0.0.0] — Introduction
The current edition of the Guide to Advancement is the official source for administering advancement in all Boy Scouts of America programs: Cub Scouting, Boy
Scouting, Varsity Scouting, Venturing, and Sea Scouts. It replaces any previous BSA advancement manuals and previous editions of the Guide to Advancement.
[Page 2, and 5.0.1.4] — Policy on Unauthorized Changes to Advancement Program
No council, committee, district, unit, or individual has the authority to add to, or subtract from, advancement requirements. There are limited exceptions
relating only to youth members with special needs. For details see section 10, “Advancement for Members With Special Needs”.
[Page 2] — The “Guide to Safe Scouting” Applies
Policies and procedures outlined in the Guide to Safe Scouting, No. 34416, apply to all BSA activities, including those related to advancement and Eagle Scout
service projects.
[7.0.3.1] — The Buddy System and Certifying Completion
A youth member must not meet one-on-one with an adult. Sessions with counselors must take place where others can view the interaction, or the Scout must have a
buddy: a friend, parent, guardian, brother, sister, or other relative—or better yet, another Scout working on the same badge—along with him attending the session. If
merit badge counseling or instruction includes any Web-based interaction, it must be conducted in accordance with the BSA Social Media Guidelines
(http://www.scouting.org/Marketing/Resources/SocialMedia). For example, always copy one or more authorized adults on email messages between counselors and
Scouts.
When the Scout meets with the counselor, he should bring any required projects. If these cannot be transported, he should present evidence, such as photographs or
adult verification. His unit leader, for example, might state that a satisfactory bridge or tower has been built for the Pioneering merit badge, or that meals were
prepared for Cooking. If there are questions that requirements were met, a counselor may confirm with adults involved. Once satisfied, the counselor signs the blue
card using the date upon which the Scout completed the requirements, or in the case of partials, initials the individual requirements passed.
Note that from time to time, it may be appropriate for a requirement that has been met for one badge to also count for another. See “Fulfilling More Than One
Requirement With a Single Activity,” 4.2.3.6.
[7.0.3.2] — Group Instruction
It is acceptable—and sometimes desirable—for merit badges to be taught in group settings. This often occurs at camp and merit badge midways, fairs, clinics, or
similar events. Interactive group discussions can support learning. The method can also be attractive to “guest experts” assisting registered and approved
counselors. Slide shows, skits, demonstrations, panels, and various other techniques can also be employed, but as any teacher can attest, not everyone will learn all
the material.
There must be attention to each individual’s projects and his fulfillment of all requirements. We must know that every Scout —actually and personally— completed
them. If, for example, a requirement uses words like “show,” “demonstrate,” or “discuss,” then every Scout must do that. It is unacceptable to award badges on the
basis of sitting in classrooms watching demonstrations, or remaining silent during discussions.
It is sometimes reported that Scouts who have received merit badges through group instructional settings have not fulfilled all the requirements. To offer a quality
merit badge program, council and district advancement committees should ensure the following are in place for all group instructional events.
A culture is established for merit badge group instructional events that partial completions are acceptable expected results.
A guide or information sheet is distributed in advance of events that promotes the acceptability of partials, explains how merit badges can be finished after
events, lists merit badge prerequisites, and provides other helpful information that will establish realistic expectations for the number of merit badges that can be
earned at an event.
Merit badge counselors are known to be registered and approved.
Any guest experts or guest speakers, or others assisting who are not registered and approved as merit badge counselors, do not accept the responsibilities of,
or behave as, merit badge counselors, either at a group instructional event or at any other time. Their service is temporary, not ongoing.
Counselors agree to sign off only requirements that Scouts have actually and personally completed.
Counselors agree not to assume prerequisites have been completed without some level of evidence that the work has been done. Pictures and letters from
other merit badge counselors or unit leaders are the best form of prerequisite documentation when the actual work done cannot be brought to the camp or site
of the merit badge event.
There is a mechanism for unit leaders or others to report concerns to a council advancement committee on summer camp merit badge programs, group
instructional events, and any other merit badge counseling issues—especially in instances where it is believed BSA procedures are not followed. See
“Reporting Merit Badge Counseling Concerns,” 11.1.0.0.
There must be attention to each individual’s projects and his fulfillment of all requirements. We must know that every Scout—actually and personally—
completed them.
It is permissible for guest speakers, guest experts, or others who are not merit badge counselors to assist in the counseling process. Those providing such
assistance must be under the direction of a registered and approved counselor who is readily available onsite, and provides personal supervision to assure all
applicable BSA policies and procedures—including those related to BSA Youth Protection—are in place and followed.
[7.0.3.3] — Partial Completions
A Scout need not pass all the requirements of one merit badge with the same counselor. It may be that due to timing or location issues, etc., he must meet with a
different counselor to finish the badge. The Application for Merit Badge has a place to record what has been finished—a “partial.” In the center section on the reverse
of the blue card, the counselor initials for each requirement passed. In the case of a partial completion, the counselor does not retain his or her portion of the card. A
subsequent counselor may choose not to accept partial work, but this should be rare. A Scout, if he believes he is being treated unfairly, may work with his unit leader
to find another counselor. An example for the use of a signed partial would be to take it to camp as proof of prerequisites. Partials have no expiration except the
Scout’s 18th birthday. Units, districts, or councils shall not establish other expiration dates for partial merit badges.
[7.0.4.8] — Unofficial Worksheets and Learning Aids
Worksheets and other materials that may be of assistance in earning merit badges are available from a variety of places including unofficial sources on the Internet
and even troop libraries. Use of these aids is permissible as long as the materials can be correlated with the current requirements that Scouts must fulfill. Completing
“worksheets” may suffice where a requirement calls for something in writing, but this would not work for a requirement where the Scout must discuss, tell, show, or
demonstrate, etc. Note that Scouts shall not be required to use these learning aids in order to complete a merit badge.
(NOTE: It is not necessary to print this page.)