Cooking

Merit Badge Workbook

This workbook can help you but you still need to read the merit badge pamphlet.
This Workbook can help you organize your thoughts as you prepare to meet with your merit badge counselor.
You still must satisfy your counselor that you can demonstrate each skill and have learned the information.
You should use the work space provided for each requirement to keep track of which requirements have been completed,
and to make notes for discussing the item with your counselor, not for providing full and complete answers.
If a requirement says that you must take an action using words such as "discuss", "show",
"tell", "explain", "demonstrate", "identify", etc, that is what you must do.
Merit Badge Counselors may not require the use of this or any similar workbooks.
No one may add or subtract from the official requirements found in Boy Scout Requirements (Pub. 33216 SKU 621535).
The requirements were last issued or revised in 2016 This workbook was updated in January 2016.

Scouts Name:__________________________________________

Unit: __________________________________________

Counselors Name: ______________________________________

Counselors 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. Health and Safety. 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 2016 - 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

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Scout's Name: ________________________

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

Fresh
Vegetables

Explain how to prevent cross-contamination.

d. Discuss with your counselor food allergies, food intolerance, and food-related illnesses and diseases.
Food allergies

Food-related
illnesses

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Cooking

Scout's Name: ________________________

Food
intolerance

Food-related
diseases

Explain why someone who handles or prepares food needs to be aware of these concerns.

e. Discuss with your counselor why reading food labels is important.

Explain how to identify common allergens such as peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, wheat, soy, and shellfish.
Peanuts
Tree nuts
Milk
Eggs
Wheat
Soy
Shellfish
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Cooking

Scout's Name: ________________________

2. Nutrition. 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.

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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.

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Cooking

Scout's Name: ________________________

e. Discuss the following food label terms: calorie, fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrate, dietary
fiber, sugar, protein.
Calorie

Fat

Saturated fat

Trans fat

Cholesterol

Sodium

Carbohydrate

Dietary fiber

Sugar

Protein

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Cooking

Scout's Name: ________________________

Explain how to calculate total carbohydrates and nutritional values for two servings, based on the serving size
specified on the label.

3. Cooking Basics. Do the following:

a. Discuss EACH of the following cooking methods. For each one, describe the equipment needed, how temperature
control is maintained, and name at least one food that can be cooked using that method: baking, boiling, broiling,
pan frying, simmering, steaming, microwaving, grilling, foil cooking, and use of a Dutch oven.
Method

Food

Equipment needed

How is food cooked and temperature maintained?

Baking

Boiling

Broiling

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Cooking

Scout's Name: ________________________

Pan frying

Simmering

Steaming

Microwaving

Grilling

Foil cooking

Use of a
Dutch oven

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Cooking

Scout's Name: ________________________

b. Discuss the benefits of using a camp stove on an outing vs. a charcoal or wood fire.

c. Describe with your counselor how to manage your time when preparing a meal so components for each course are
ready to serve at the same time.

Note: The meals prepared for Cooking merit badge requirements 4, 5, and 6 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 4, 5, and 6.
4. Cooking at home. 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 and how you kept your foods safe
and free from cross-contamination. List the equipment and utensils needed to prepare and serve these meals.
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Cooking

Scout's Name: ________________________

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

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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

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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

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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
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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

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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

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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 10 cooking methods from requirement 3, 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

Broiling

Pan frying

Simmering

Steaming

Microwaving

Grilling

Foil Cooking

Dutch oven

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: ____________________ Adults verification: ______________________________
Lunch No. _________ Date: ____________________ Adults verification: ______________________________
Dinner No, ________ Date: ____________________ Adults verification: ______________________________

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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.

*The meals for requirement 4 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.
5. Camp Cooking. Do the following.
a. 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 Your menu should include enough food for each person,
keeping in mind any special needs (such as food allergies) and how you keep your foods safe and free from crosscontamination. These five meals must include at least one breakfast, one lunch, one dinner, AND at least one snack
OR one dessert. List the equipment and utensils needed to prepare and serve these meals.

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Cooking

Scout's Name: ________________________

Menu
Meal 1

Quantity

Calories

Equipment

Utensils

Fruits
Vegetables
Grains
Proteins
Dairy

Meal 2

Fruits
Vegetables
Grains
Proteins
Dairy

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Cooking

Scout's Name: ________________________

Menu
Meal 3

Quantity

Calories

Equipment

Utensils

Fruits
Vegetables
Grains
Proteins
Dairy

Meal 4

Fruits
Vegetables
Grains
Proteins
Dairy

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Cooking

Scout's Name: ________________________

Menu
Meal 5

Quantity

Calories

Equipment

Utensils

Fruits
Vegetables
Grains
Proteins
Dairy

Desert or
Snack

Then do the following:

b. 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

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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

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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
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Cooking
c.

Scout's Name: ________________________

Share and discuss your meal plan and shopping list with your counselor.

d. In the outdoors, using your menu plan for this requirement, cook two of the five meals you planned using either a
lightweight stove or a low-impact fire. Use a different cooking method from requirement 3 for each meal. You must
also cook a third meal using either a Dutch oven OR a foil pack OR kabobs. Serve all of these meals to your patrol
or a group of youth. **
Meal 1________________Heat Source: ______________Method: __________________Date: ____________
Meal 2________________Heat Source: ______________Method: __________________Date: ____________
Meal 3________________Heat Source: ______________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

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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 planning and preparation help ensure successful outdoor cooking.

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Cooking

Scout's Name: ________________________

g. Explain to your counselor how you cleaned the equipment, utensils, and the cooking site thoroughly after each meal.
Explain how you properly disposed of dishwater and of all garbage.
.

Explain how you properly disposed of dishwater and of all garbage.

h. Discuss how you followed the Outdoor Code and no-trace principles when preparing your meals.
.

6. Trail and backpacking meals. Do the following.

a. 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). Be sure to keep in mind any special needs (such as food
allergies) and how you will keep your foods safe and free from cross-contamination. List the equipment and utensils
needed to prepare and serve these meals.
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Cooking

Scout's Name: ________________________

Breakfast

Menu

Quantity

Calories

Equipment

Utensils

Menu

Quantity

Calories

Equipment

Utensils

Fruits
Vegetables
Grains
Proteins
Dairy

Lunch
Fruits
Vegetables
Grains
Proteins
Dairy

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Cooking

Scout's Name: ________________________

Dinner

Menu

Quantity

Calories

Equipment

Utensils

Menu

Quantity

Calories

Equipment

Utensils

Fruits
Vegetables
Grains
Proteins
Dairy

Snack

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Cooking

Scout's Name: ________________________

b. 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
Menu Item

Lunch

Cooking - Merit Badge Workbook

Quantity

Cost

Total Cost
Components to purchase

Quantity

Cost

Total Cost

Page. 29 of 34

Cooking

Scout's Name: ________________________

Menu Item

Components to purchase

Dinner
Menu Item

Snack
c.

Quantity

Cost

Total Cost
Components to purchase

Quantity

Cost

Total Cost

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.

d. While on a trail hike or backpacking trip, prepare and serve two meals and a snack from the menu planned for this
requirement. 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:___________________________
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Cooking

Scout's Name: ________________________

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

Discuss what you learned with your counselor, including any adjustments that could have improved or enhanced
your meals. Tell how planning and preparation help ensure successful trail hiking or backpacking meals.

f.. Discuss how you followed the Outdoor Code and no-trace principles during your outing.

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Cooking

Scout's Name: ________________________

Explain to your counselor how you cleaned any equipment, utensils, and the cooking site after each meal.

Explain how you properly disposed of any dishwater and packed out all garbage.

**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 5 and 6 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.
7.. Food-related careers. 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:

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Cooking

Scout's Name: ________________________

Training:

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

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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 relativeor better yet, another Scout working on the same badgealong 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 acceptableand sometimes desirablefor 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 individuals 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 issuesespecially 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 individuals projects and his fulfillment of all requirements. We must know that every Scoutactually 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 proceduresincluding those related to BSA Youth Protectionare 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 finisheda 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
Scouts 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.