Umesh, Georgia
What is your favorite part of class?
Answer: The entire 6-week sessions were very informative that enhanced my knowledge of eating healthy to live better and maintain a healthy lifestyle. The class taught by Open Hand (Ms. Aliza) provided a lot of information that I was not aware of it. My favorite part of the class was the plate method which allows me to create a balanced meal by ensuring that ½ of the plate has non-starchy vegetables, ¼ of the plate has protein, and ¼ of the plate has carbohydrates. This method taught me that I should “eat to live and not live to eat”. In addition, the plate method helped me to lose body weight, maintain a healthy blood pressure, and lower my A1C.
What is the most impactful thing you have learned so far? // What was the most important thing you learned in the class?
Answer: The most impactful thing I learned so far is eating a balanced and healthy meal by utilizing the plate method to lose weight, maintain a healthy blood pressure, cholesterol, and lower my A1C to avoid future health issues. In summary, I use food as medicine to maintain my health.
Has this class changed the way you approach food? How?
Answer: Yes, the class has changed the way I now approach food. I learned how to cook food using healthy ingredients, how much to eat and daily intake of calories, sugar, salt, fat, and carbohydrates etc. I now eat enough food to live and not live to eat.
Can you share a little about your experience/confidence grocery shopping and choosing healthier foods and knowing how to prepare healthier foods?
Answer: During the class, I learned how to read and understand nutrition facts labels, and I use this knowledge when I purchase my groceries. In addition, I learned the unit pricing model when I purchase food which allows me to make an informed decision whether to purchase food in bulk or smaller portions. The unit price model helps me to determine the difference in cost savings when purchasing items in bulk or in their whole forms or smaller portions which has reduced my grocery bill.
Are there any new foods you have been introduced to that you weren’t familiar with or didn’t know how to prepare before?
Answer: This class introduced several new foods that I was not familiar with or did not know how to prepare new foods prior to taking this class. The new foods are: Stovetop Ratatouille, South Louisiana-Style Jambalaya, Guilt-free Breakfast Sausage Patties, Tomato and White Bean Salad, Smoky Black Bean Burgers
Has your life changed at all because of the class?
Answer: The cooking class taught by Open Hand has significantly changed my lifestyle and preparing and eating healthy meals. The class taught me how to read and understand nutrition label facts, make the best use of my money when grocery shopping, and how to cook healthy foods. Yes, I feel better since I took the cooking lessons taught by Open Hand. I lost about six pounds in about 7 weeks, improved my blood pressure, cholesterol, and A1C. In addition, I do not feel sluggish or tired as I eat healthy meals and portions using the plate model. In summary, I use food as medicine, and I now have more energy.
Would you recommend this class to others? // Do you think more people should be able to take this class?
Answer: I highly recommend this class to others, especially for those who are experiencing A1C issues, and this class will enhance their knowledge of cooking and eating well-balanced meals. Eating healthy meals as well as portions will allow participants to maintain a healthy lifestyle, i.e., lose weight, improve cholesterol, improve blood pressure, and most importantly lower their A1C. More people would be able to take this class as long as Open Hand Atlanta has the necessary funding and resources to educate people to use food as medicine to achieve and maintain their health goals.
I highly recommend that SNAP-Ed continue to provide funding and necessary resources to Atlanta Open Hand to support its mission of building a healthier community. The Atlanta Open Hand provides nutrition education to participants in the community to achieve their personal goals of health and wellness.