RUSSELLVILLE, Ky. (WBKO) – The University of Kentucky’s Nutrition Education Program (NEP) is offering cooking classes aimed at families with limited resources at the Logan County Extension Office. The program’s mission is to promote nutrition education across Kentucky communities.
“Our focus is to work with limited resource audiences, but we work with everyone,” said Whitney Paige Alexander, Senior Logan County NEP Assistant.
Although the classes are aimed at those with limited resources, anyone can and is encouraged to attend. The program offers diverse classes ranging from cooking (in person and via Facebook Live) and free recipes, to meal prepping sessions tailored to meet the needs of varied audiences.
“We’re just trying to reach the limited resource audiences that are trying to figure out, OK, with this meal budget, what do? How far can I go with this?” Alexander said.
The next in-person cooking class will be based off of NEP’s Cooking Through the Calendar series. Attendees will also receive a bag stocked with kitchen tools and utensils they can take home.
“The one that’s face-to-face this month is going to be May 14 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 here at the Logan County Extension Office in our kitchen,” Alexander said.
There is no cost to attend. Equipment and ingredients are provided for students through grants to the NEP. However, to ensure that there are enough supplies, Alexander requests that those wishing to come to the lessons RSVP.
“I also ask whenever you RSVP, just let me know your food allergies,” Alexander said. “We want to make sure that we’re covering food allergies because it’s something scary in today’s time, and it’s happening more and more. So, we just want to be prepared for that.”
One of NEP’s objectives is to encourage healthier eating habits, particularly focusing on increasing fruit and vegetable consumption. Alexander suggests the use of frozen produce as a cost-effective alternative, especially in areas where fresh produce might be inaccessible.
“With Kentucky being a huge agricultural state, we don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables,” she said.
In addition to addressing dietary concerns, NEP places a strong emphasis on family mealtimes.
“We have really missed a big importance of family mealtime,” Alexander said. “We need to focus on bringing our family back together.”
This includes involving children with meal preparation and setting aside time in the evenings to sit down at the table and have a family meal together. By involving children and partners in cooking activities, NEP strives to instill stronger family bonds.
“Cooking with family is a big one that I try to focus on with people. I’ll also talk about how we want to make sure that we try to keep those good relationships with our families, tying in with your kids, trying to get them to help you cook,” she said. “These are life skills that are great for kids to learn at a young age, so it prepares them as an adult.”
To facilitate meal planning and preparation, NEP provides a variety of resources, both online and in person at the Logan County Extension office. These tools will help families and individuals maximize their food budgets and minimize waste.
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