Clinic patients, specifically those dealing with high blood pressure, high blood glucose, or high risk for developing hypertension or diabetes that struggle to access nutritious foods, can apply to take part in these classes. Participants are not only given access to healthy meals, but also the knowledge on how to prepare them each session. Each client who participates in the program attends free weekly culinary classes and receives five ready-to-eat meals, 10 pounds of fresh produce when they leave, and 20 pounds of healthy groceries delivered bi-monthly.
Eligible clients are learning to cook better for their families with weekly classes that run from April 9th to October 8th and have been developing skills regarding how to prepare produce, live well with diabetes, and implement overall healthy cooking/eating habits.
The initial five weeks of the program (April 9th – May 7th) covered the Healthy for Life Cooking Classes segment, lead by mastered level registered Nutritionist, Hai Nguyen. The second segment is taking place June 4th – 25th, and will cover the Gardening for Health Class taught by Lauren Hickman, licensed Horticulture Therapist. GRACE’s own Nurse Manager, Shirley Roberts, brought the opportunity to GARCE clients and has coordinated the program as a whole. Shirley’s passion to see our clients and community healthy knows no bounds, but we got a chance to ask Chef Nguyen several questions about his ‘why’ behind the program. This is what he shared:
“My passion for cooking and offering a helping hand to others began with my mom. To me, success is measured by how one helps the community they are in, and I do it with food through classes like these. GRACE clients have been the gold standard when it comes to valuing the importance of their health, so we are here to make sure everyone has the tools they need to enjoy healthy cooking. I would encourage everyone who qualifies for this program to come and experience just one class! Whether it’s learning how to make my crowd-pleasing turkey chili, or just general kitchen how-to’s, everyone will walk away with something.”
Interested in joining or know someone who could benefit from these classes? Contact sroberts@GRACEGrapevine.org to get on the waiting list for the next CVS Food Rx Program!
