Passing the Skills

Americans on the go consume more hidden calories and sodium by eating out than if they were cooking at home. By cooking at home, it becomes easier to control fats, sodium, and hidden calories as you are controlling exactly what is going into your meal. Montgomery County Senior Citizen began classes with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) January 2019. The Seniors have physical activity tips, as well as nutrition lessons, once a week getting to participate in a hands on experience of making a healthy recipe, then sampling it. The Seniors look forward to the classes each week, spreading the word among other Montgomery County Citizens. Ms. Veanie Cockrell heard about the nutrition classes that are offered each week at Montgomery County Senior Citizen. She was thrilled to start the classes in May. Ms. Cockrell was always ready and willing to participate and learn everything she could. Ms. Cockrell made special trips to the Montgomery County Senior Citizen just for class, missing only a few classes since she started. 

Ms. Cockrell had been busy with life and eating her meals out quite frequent. “It is faster and easier for us. But the truth is, eating at home is usually a much better choice. Research shows that we consume more calories, fat, and sodium and less nutritious foods when we eat out instead of at home.” According to the American Diabetes Association. SNAP encourage participants to make the healthy choices in their diet by using MyPlate guidelines. An important way to do this is by cooking meals at home. Cooking at home allows the person to prepare the foods healthy by cutting fat, sugar, and salt out of their diet. Cutting these will help reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes, stroke, blood pressure, kidney disease, heart disease, and some cancers. According to healthline.com “For more than a decade, heart disease and cancer have claimed the first and second spots respectively as the leading causes of deaths in America. Cooking at home also has other benefits like control portion size, control calorie intake, have less waste, eating fresh foods, save on the budget, and spend more family time together. 

Ms. Cockrell now has a meat thermometer, healthy recipes, and skills cooking more of her meals at home. She plans more of her meals out. Ms. Cockrell has been making her plate more colorful by visiting the Montgomery County Farmers’ Market to use her double dollars to purchase fresh produce. Ms. Cockrell has improved in her overall health by being able to walk for longer distance at time, increase physical activity, too sleep better, staying focused, more energy, and lost some inches and pounds. Ms. Cockrell now takes what she has learned and passes it to her grandchildren. She and the grandchildren now prepare a healthy recipe from SNAP class at her home a couple times a month together. She says her grandchildren look forward to being in the kitchen now.