Teaching Healthy Cooking Program at Pathways
Making a Difference One Healthy Meal at a Time – Creating Change in the Lives of the Homeless
Juliette Tahar, a French-born natural foods expert, believes that, “Even people on a food stamp budget can eat healthy.” So twice a month, this petite dynamo and founder of the not-for-profit Healthy Living, travels to Pathways, a Washington DC halfway house for homeless women, to teach the residents food preparation skills.
Juliette arrives with bags of food, and cooking gear – she works one-on-one with a different woman each time she comes to prepare a healthy, nutritious meal for the other residents. During this private cooking class, Juliette explains the mechanics of the meal preparation, discussing techniques and recipes.
Once the food is in the oven, Juliette wanders into an adjacent living room and starts to chat with whoever is hanging around. She combines teaching, questioning, and listening in equal parts. Juliette describes the meal they are preparing. She explains that the beans are made with “kombu” which is a type of seaweed. She asks the women if they have heard of sea vegetables and how to use them. One woman surprises everyone when she explains that she has lived in Ireland where the Irish harvest seaweed for animal and human consumption as well as for compost.
Juliette then asks “How was the fish last time?” Someone responds “It was very good”. She asks what changes they have been making to improve their health. Doris says she lost 39 pounds and eats better now. She has also enrolled in another nutrition program offered at a different shelter. She is proud of the “healthy recipe” of rice, vegetable and chicken soup she created as part of her nutrition class homework.
Another resident says she started buying seafood salad to increase her consumption of fish. Yet another says she has given up soda and switched to carbonated water. Another participant says she is eating more whole grains and fruit. One group member states that she is still craving sugar. Juliette explains that studies have shown that sugar cravings may come from eating too many animal products. Juliette is pleased with the progress the women are making and their thoughtful questions. She prods the women who have not spoken up yet. They respond with positive news as well.
Juliette struggles to raise money to keep the program going. “I think it is so important that women on a VERY low budget realize that they too can eat healthy. It is just a matter of education. And the great thing is that they are so thirsty for knowledge and so appreciative to get it. They implement most of what they are taught.”
Juliette adds, “ Let’s face it, as tax payers we should all care that everyone eats better – because healthy eaters are less obese, less likely to become diabetics, less likely to suffer from chronic diseases, less likely to require expensive health care.”
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