We Insist on Sex Ed Recipes (WISER)

We Insist on Sex Ed Recipes (WISER) is a collaboration with pastry chefs, researchers, educators, artists, and the public. Together, we are developing a series of essential recipes for EVERYONE to develop agency, curiosity, self-knowledge, and self-advocacy skills. 

WISER Recipes transform the way people access and experience sexuality education. Recognizing the barriers that formal educational settings can pose, our recipes are developed collaboratively via a series of gatherings that take place in relaxed, familiar, non-academic contexts to help put participants at ease. Fun, making-centered activities facilitate learning through enjoyment and shared lived experience, rather than scholarly or societal pressure. 

Each WISER recipe focuses on one sexuality topic and includes: instructions for making an actual confection (generally old favorites updated to be more inclusive and representative); prompts to use the treat as a tool for exploration and easier/better conversations about the topic; and evidence-based resources for self-directed learning. Recipe development is a collaborative process with the public to ensure a diversity of voices in each published recipe. This is achieved via 2-hour tasting events: cafe-style gatherings reminiscent of bakeshops, including counter service with coffee/tea and treats. The recipe topic dictates the theme of each tasting event, with a talk by a researcher/field expert to provide current research and resources, shared personal narratives to ground the topic in lived experience, a making and sampling session based on the recipe’s confection, as well as prompts for conversation and exploration. Participants are asked to share feedback, personal narratives, and their questions. Everyone leaves with to-go tools, treats, and resources. Tasting events are documented and consenting participants’ contributions are included and credited in the online presentation of the recipe du jour, and eventually in print. WISER recipes are iterative morsels that nourish those who use them with delicious treats and information; turning sexuality education into a must-have at any table or gathering.  

Recipes currently being tested: 

• We Heart Fat (Cereal Treat Self Portrait): This recipe is about living in our bodies and proposes body liberation as a framework for moving forward.
• We Heart Kink (Fruit Leather Flog): This recipe is a collaboration with Nyx Crushong and Kailey Larson and is about understanding your desires and exercising them with care.
• We Heart Protection (Candy bar): This recipe is about information, communication, safe sex, and healthy relationships with self and others. 
• We Heart Choice (Earl grey shortbread cookies): This recipe covers information, birth control, reproductive rights, and choice.
• We Heart Breasts (Macaroons): This recipe addresses owning the breasts you have, the breasts you wish you had, the breasts you mourn, or the breasts you don’t want, and taking care of yourself in the process.
• We Heart Consent (Heart mint patty candies): This recipe delves into communication, respect, and agency. 
• We Heart Oral Pleasure (Fruit pleasure pops): This recipe tackles understanding, appreciating, and enjoying the process.