Teaching Cooking IS Important!

I teach healthy eating concepts.  I am a dietitian.  I believe you cannot teach nutrition without discussing food preparation!  This has been a missed concept for many years by many nutrition experts.   Probably why we have been nicknamed food Nazi’s!  All foods do fit, and cooking IS important!

I teach numerous cooking classes yearly—to all ages—kids through retired adults.  All participants have one thing in common—they must eat—and they require something that tastes good, and is good for them.  So I teach.  I love to cook, and take great pride in my accomplishments.  Now—when something doesn’t turn out—then I’m not so happy!  So that would explain why the cooking industry (cook books, The Food Network, cooking magazines, cooking stores, etc…) is so BIG.

When I teach a class, I write the curriculum, purchase the groceries, set up the room, and provide all the handouts.  I even clean up!  My classes can be for 10 participants, or 75.  No big deal—it’s part of my job—and I do not have any minions to do the “small” stuff.  I love doing it.

Recently, I received the honor of being a Taste of Home Cooking finalist for their show.  I got to help with the back stage food prep for the show—then be on stage in front of 2200 people during the show to help.  Now-the numbers were MUCH larger—but the prep and cleanup were the same.  The chefs running the program were in charge of making sure EVERYTHING was done.  It was an incredible experience—but the passion behind teaching individuals who were excited about cooking was the same as in my classes.  There are many people who want to learn to prepare great meals easily.  That’s why I am always excited when I offer a class.   If we empower people to cook—maybe we can solve a few health issues!  Viva la cooking classes!