We recently reported that Perry Wellness Center has established a nutrition kitchen for peers. Led by staff member Phyllis Smith, this innovative program teaches cooking basics with a nod to both good nutrition and creativity.

In the nutrition kitchen classes, actual food preparation is demonstrated. Cooking comes alive when it steps out of the pages of a cookbook, and students can see, smell, and taste the finished products. Did we say taste? That’s the best part of the classes to those who attend. The prepared food is served to the peers who participate in these classes as part of their Whole Health Action Management (WHAM) classes.

“This is fun for me and for our peers who may not be familiar with the healthy aspects of different foods,” says Miss Phyllis. “It is all a new program for educating our peers and staff about new levels of food preparation.” Like her students, she is learning new and different meal preparation techniques as she readies for new classes.

In addition to stocking Rudy’s Happy Patch Market and the campus cafeteria, a variety of fresh, local produce is needed for the new food preparation classes. Fruits and vegetables come from both the Perry Wellness Center gardens and local suppliers.

“Today we made papaya green smoothies, fresh kale salad, tofu stir-fry with fresh vegetables, roasted beets, broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots,” Miss Phyllis recounts, adding, “We only serve to peers.”

Looking ahead, she announces plans for Perry Wellness Center to publish a healthy eating cookbook in the coming months. We can’t wait!

In the photo above, Phyllis Smith welcomes her first morning class to the sights, smells, and tastes of the new nutrition kitchen at Perry Wellness Center.