Congratulations Cooking Matters Class Graduates!

After four cooking and nutrition classes, one grocery store tour on Election Day, lots of new recipes and food tasting, graduation class was here! What does Cooking Matters for Adults graduation class look like? Lots of healthy snacks, “BINGO” yelling, laughs, and smiles from the success of being awarded a graduation certificate. Participants put their knowledge from the past five classes to the test during nutrition BINGO where they had to identify which foods belonged in each food group. Eager to win kitchen utensils for prizes, BINGO was competitive with some playing with four BINGO cards!

Ten people graduated from the fall series of
Cooking Matters Cooking Class

During the game, everyone enjoyed well-balanced snacks of fresh fruit with yogurt dip, vegetables and pita chips with homemade hummus, and tuna and white bean cucumber boats. Participants enjoyed the array of snacks, especially the hummus. “This hummus is so good. I can’t get enough of it! It’s better than what you buy in the store” exclaimed Mykia as she refilled her plate with more.

After all the prizes had been won, Participants went around the room stating what they learned “I learned how to cut a chicken and use different parts for different meals like broth, I never knew how to do that before” one participant shared. Videra told us “I learned to substitute different foods in recipes. After our first class, I actually went online to find some other recipes where I could substitute to make them healthier. I know I need to change my diet”.

Participants received their graduation certificates and reusable grocery bags filled with a thermometer, plastic cutting mat, measuring spoons and cups, and the Cooking Matters for Adults book. Everyone was excited to have more recipes to try at home in addition to what we’ve made together this fall. In providing participants with the knowledge, skills, and utensils they need to continue food safety practices and cooking skills, I know they will continue to implement them at home and hopefully share their experience with other family and friends. It has been so rewarding to work with a group who was committed to learning and improving their dietary practices and cooking styles. I couldn’t be more proud of my first graduating cooking class!

Brittany Lawrance RD, CNSC, LDN, Community Dietitian

Brittany is a registered dietitian and has been with Food & Friends since October 2012. Her previous experience was working as a clinical dietitian on the pediatric hematology and oncology unit at Children’s National Medical Center. Brittany completed her dietetic internship in Baltimore, Maryland through Sodexo-Mid Atlantic and is a graduate of Bluffton University in Ohio. She enjoys traveling, playing tennis and softball, making crafts, and has a new found love for leading cooking class. Learn more about Food & Friends' nutrition services.