{"id":4692,"date":"2020-01-22T10:25:08","date_gmt":"2020-01-22T10:25:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.exaltahealth.org\/?p=4692"},"modified":"2024-03-21T17:14:30","modified_gmt":"2024-03-21T17:14:30","slug":"cooking-matters-at-exalta-health-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/exaltahealth.org\/cooking-matters-at-exalta-health-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Cooking Matters at Exalta Health"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A visitor to Exalta Health last\u00a0fall might have noticed something unexpected in the air: the savory smell of food\u00a0being cooked.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And not just any food. This was healthy food being prepared, a homework assignment of sorts for students in a nutrition and cooking class\u00a0called Cooking Matters. The class was\u00a0offered\u00a0at no charge\u00a0for community members\u00a0and was a\u00a0partnership\u00a0between\u00a0Exalta\u00a0Health and\u00a0the Michigan State University Extension program.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0Heading it up was Yesenia Velasco, a community nutrition instructor with the MSU Extension.\u00a0<\/span>She said\u00a0Exalta\u00a0Health is to be commended for helping create the opportunity for community members to learn more about healthy cooking and eating.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“By partnering with MSU Extension to provide access to nutrition and cooking classes,” she said, “Exalta Health is sending a strong message to their clients that healthy eating is a critical piece to their overall health, and they will be\u00a0 supported in making personal behavior changes to diet.”\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Exalta\u00a0Health started offering nutrition classes just over a year ago, coordinated by AmeriCorps member Rosa Torres. Since then some 30 people have completed a class and learned valuable tools and tricks for healthier eating.\u00a0<\/span>Velasco said that increasing the health of underserved communities in Grand Rapids is a shared value for both\u00a0Exalta\u00a0Health and MSU Extension.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And for the 10 students in the\u00a0most recent\u00a0Cooking Matters class, the opportunity to learn how to cook healthy and have some fun at the same time was enticing. Velasco said the fun part is not to be underestimated.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“Absolutely having fun is a goal,” she said. “By being interactive and hands on and working with others toward the same goal, participants are more likely to learn the skills and be motivated to bring them home and use them. We also hope to build a small community within each group that will be supportive of all.” <\/span>Along the way, Velasco said,\u00a0other\u00a0important goals\u00a0beyond fun were\u00a0set for the class, including:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n