There is an importance in knowing not only how to cook, but how to put together nutritious meals that your body will thank you for. Jasmine Kelley, a carpenter, says eating out too much gets expensive. She enjoys the idea of cooking, but does not want to spend all night doing it.
Cooking classes at the St. Barnabas Hospital Health and Wellness Center Teaching Kitchen have helped Kelley become an even better chef and taught her how to create a healthy lifestyle. The kitchen is located in the Belmont section of the Bronx. There are three or four classes each week, and each class shows students how to make delicious dishes using healthy ingredients. “You do it yourself. We are just gently guiding you,” said Wanda Mendez, a chef and culinary nutrition educator.
Mendez, a Lower East Side native who now lives in the Bronx, added that the recipes reflect the diverse communities in the borough, and that the ingredients can be found in one’s local kitchen or the grocery store.
The classes have received positive reviews and are affordable at $5 per class.
