From Kitchen Chaos to Culinary Confidence: Why a Cooking Class is a Game-Changer
The Value in Taking a Cooking Class
Written by Roxane Shymkiw
Before I studied to become a chef, I enrolled in cooking classes because it meant a night out with my girlfriends. It was only after I had kids that I really began to appreciate that those classes gave me so much more than, admittedly needed, “me time” but ideas and the confidence to be adventurous in the kitchen.
Research has shown that the more people cook at home, their overall diet is healthier, they consume less calories, spend less money on food and have a reduced risk of developing metabolic health issues. When people were asked why they didn’t have a healthier diet, one of the top reasons was that they didn’t know how to prepare the food. This is the power of a cooking class. It can show people that cooking at home can be easy, enjoyable, affordable, and beneficial to our health.
Cooking classes increase a person’s confidence in preparation and cooking skills which can translate into eating a healthier diet. Classes can show how to store, prepare, and cook foods that are unfamiliar and give ideas of what other meals can be made from the same ingredients. The skills learned can reduce the reliance on highly processed foods, while also controlling the amount of salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats that are added into a meal.
Even after training as a chef, I still love to attend cooking classes. Sometimes it’s out of interest or to learn new techniques and other times it’s for inspiration to get out of the rut of cooking the same meals. As people become more aware of how the food we eat can influence our health, I think the value of cooking classes will also be to guide us in being mindful of our choices. But just as important as what we choose to eat is understanding why we should eat it. Why should we eat fermented foods? Why is magnesium important and what foods should we be including in our diet to make sure we are feeding our body what it needs? What foods should I be including in my diet to improve my energy? Decrease my cholesterol? Is this actually possible? Absolutely!
No Shoes Nutrition is launching a series of nutrition based cooking classes to give you just that. We’ll go into the science behind the ingredients in each recipe while demonstrating the culinary skills so you will be able to recreate the recipes at home. We’ll discuss ways to reinvent recipes, how to incorporate the key foods into your daily routine, and ways to be more efficient in planning and your kitchen. Over the course of the series, we will dive into meal planning and preparation, smart shopping, and storage tips. Nutritious can definitely be delicious!
Ready to thrive in 2025?
Taking a nutrition based culinary class is a great step to help you reach your goals. Registration for our first cooking class Love your Gut: Creative Ways to Enjoy Fermented Foods is open and space is limited. If you would like more personalized guidance in making sustainable changes to your routine, we’re here to support you. Schedule a Discovery Call with us today and let’s make 2025 the year you feel your best.
References
Domper, J., Gayoso, L., Goni, L., De La O, V., Etxeberria, U., & Ruiz-Canela, M. (2023). Culinary medicine and healthy ageing: a comprehensive review. Nutrition Research Reviews, 37(1), 179–193. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0954422423000148
Klein, L., & Parks, K. (2020). Home meal preparation: a powerful medical intervention. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 14(3), 282–285. https://doi.org/10.1177/1559827620907344
