This manual is part of Bridging the Employment Gap for Learners with Low Level Literacy Skills, a two-phase project begun in 2001. Phase 1 of the project focused on students with the lowest level literacy and basic skills, especially the developmentally challenged population. In Phase 2, the focus was expanded to include all Essential Skills Level 1 learners. This project involved the development of job-specific sector manuals that include step-by-step learning activities for selected tasks in specified sectors. All the activities have been aligned to the Essential Skills and to the selected National Occupation Classification profiles.

There are six manuals in the series: Clerical, Grounds Maintenance, Janitorial, Kitchen Help, Retail, and Ready for Work.

The Kitchen Help manual will help individuals who may have the opportunity to work in a kitchen, bakery, or restaurant. It includes six main units: Safety, Loading and Unloading the Dishwasher, Counting, The Condiment Station: Sorting and Storing Food, Setting Temperatures: Burners and Ovens, and Measuring Ingredients. This manual should be used in conjunction with Ready for Work, a manual that addresses the "soft skills" common to many jobs.