Families in the Kitchen Cooking Up Fun

MCA's Community Health Program held its second cooking class on Thursday July 13th from 11:30 to 1:30 at the Kanonhkwatsheri:io Health facility. The purpose of the classes is to help children gain confidence and skills in the kitchen. Cooking and meal prep can also be turned into quality time with the family. The class promotes healthy habits, because kids are likely to try new foods and eat better. The children involved in the cooking classes are learning about kitchen and benefits that will last them a lifetime.

The cooking class is comprised of four separate classes every Thursday from July 6th to July 27th. Each class the families are learning to cook something new and different. The first class the families learned to make frittatas and 1-minute muffins. The second class the families learned to make a healthier style tuna casserole. The Community Health dietician Catherine Ciampini, shares her knowledge of why we should make more health wise decisions in the kitchen during the classes, leads the classes.

During the second cooking class, Catherine explained the reasons she chose whole grain pasta instead of white pasta for the casserole. She went on to explain why she chose chunk light tuna instead of albacore, and her selection of the different ingredients. To keep the children engaged she would let them ask any question they could think of. Once the tuna casserole was in the oven, Catherine took the opportunity to do a little lesson on fiber. She explained to two different types of fiber and why fiber is important to have in one's diet. She handed out sheets showing different ways to get more fiber into one's diet just by switching certain foods from their diet.

Once the tuna casserole was baked, the children were excited to try out the lunch they did their best to prepare. Everyone in attendance was able to try out the tuna casserole, and give their feedback on what they would change about the casserole. The children had fun learning to cook, and will definitely learn a lot more by the time the classes are finished.

The next class is Thursday, July 20 and the last clsss will be held on Thursday, July 27, 2017 at the Kanonhkwatsheri:io Health facility.