A local branch of the YMCA is getting creative with cooking, and making sure they are focused on the whole person when it comes to their health.
“This kitchen space has a side room that they created, a teaching kitchen, designed so people can actually cook along with a instructor,” says Crissie Smith from the Henry Branch YMCA.
Smith is a Food for Life Educator with the YMCA, where they have opened a brand-new teaching kitchen offering cooking classes to help people learn how to make healthy and tasty meals.
“People, if they looked at their plate, probably would not see anything green on a given day,” says Smith. “So, what we know is people do want to eat healthy. They just don’t have time or they don’t have the know-how.”
Most people think of exercise when they think of the YMCA, and while helping people get in shape stay active is a key focus, Crissie says they realize it is about the whole person.
“They [the YMCA] realize movement and exercise are very important, but if you don’t get it right, you can’t outrun your fork,” states Smith. “They get that you are a whole person. You go home; you have to eat dinner.”
With everything from soul food to superfoods, the classes range from Back-to-School Bites, to One Pot Wonders, to Whole Grain Goodness.
Smith says it’s the small changes that makes all the difference.
“Adding some of these ingredients like adding greens to chili or adding some grains to salad.”
To register or learn more, visit the Chattanooga YMCA website or contact Laura Horne at lhorne@ymcachattanooga.org.
