Jessica Williams, nutritionist for the UMass Extension Nutrition Education Program, has been offering a weekly healthy cooking class at CD-REC where students learn how to cook good tasting nutritious food. Over the eight weeks in May and June, 2009, that the class ran, students learned how to create quick and easy healthy dishes that are not expensive. Deborah Nogueira learned about the class from a flyer distributed at the Atlantis Charter School that her daughter attends. "I've learned to make a number of dishes that are really good and not hard to make," she commented. Students start by learning some basics of nutrition and are given a MyPyamid bracelet to help them remember what goes into a 2,000 calorie day. Dishes have included strawberry rhubarb crisp, sushi, fruit smoothies and a whole grain bread and spread tasting. Click here to see a grocery store tour that the group took as part of the class. Click here for other classes that Jessica teaches. For more information about the program, contact Jessica Williams at 508-675-7315.
 

(Top row) Jessica talks over the preparation of a fondue with Deborah Nogueira that includes apple slices, whole grain bread and beef. (Middle row) Jessica goes through each step in the process with Deborah until it is ready to serve to group members Daryl Parrent and Destiny Vieira. (Bottom row) Daryl joins the table with Destiny and her mother, Beth Vieira, and enjoys sampling the different kinds of fondue.