Aging comes with many life changes; empty nests, retirement, loss of loved ones, or health challenges, just to name a few. And sometimes that means we must learn new ways of doing things, like cooking green beans without bacon and potatoes for example. In Kentucky, as older folks, we were taught to cook like mom or grandma, which means using what is available. Back in those days, they raised their own meat and vegetables. Today, we don’t always have the means to raise our own food. When faced with something as challenging as diabetes or heart disease, it may be confusing to know what diet would best suit our new health concerns or which meat is the leanest. And sometimes figuring out a way to prepare tasty meals that are delicious and nutritious for just one or two people is too overwhelming.

The Nutrition Education Program (NEP) Assistant Senior provided a program at the Madison County Cooperative Extension Office to offer insight to some of these life challenges. Often as we move from one stage of life to another, a basic healthy lifestyle can prolong or even eliminate diseases like diabetes or heart disease. The Assistant Senior offered a once-a-month class lasting two hours. The first hour, the participants gathered in groups and prepared a calendar recipe to be shared with their teammates. While they were tasting the recipe, the Assistant Senior would teach a lesson from the Heathy Choices for Everybody curriculum, focusing on meal preparation and freezing leftovers for future meals. Participants shared tips and tricks to make their own family favorites healthier but also ways to prepare each featured recipe differently to keep mealtime fresh and exciting.

Thirteen women finished the program, most were single. They learned basic measuring and cooking skills, safe knife handling, proper food safety, how each food affects our bodies, and how to substitute healthier choice in old favorite recipes we don’t want to forget. The Assistant Senior considers this a great success as each of these ladies have remained in touch since finishing the class, they have also requested another session to elevate their skills.