Healthy, budget-friendly cooking classes are available each quarter on Cal Poly’s campus, with CalFresh Healthy Living hosting free cooking classes to teach healthy recipes and smart shopping to Cal Poly students.
CalFresh is California’s nutrition assistance program that provides enrollees with a monthly allowance for food, according to the website. CalFresh Healthy Living is a CalFresh program that supports not only a balanced diet but also an active lifestyle. Cooking classes are one way Healthy Living promotes this mission.
Students do not need to be enrolled in CalFresh to attend classes. They can fill out the interest form in the CalFresh Healthy Living Instagram bio and show up ready to learn – first come, first served, depending on Instagram ad.
The first class took place on Monday, November 27 and focused on developing a healthy diet. The second took place on Friday, December 1, during which students learned smart strategies for shopping.
“A lot of people are expressing interest (in the classes) and the students who are showing up are super awesome, enthusiastic and excited,” said Liv Watts, CalFresh Healthy Living manager.
Each course has a different theme and the final course will focus on understanding labels and ingredients. This took place on Monday, December 4 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
CalFresh Healthy Living cooking classes began in 2020 and are held quarterly. According to Watts, what were once just demonstration classes are now hands-on cooking experiences that engage students of all skill levels.
“We try to make these classes accessible to all cooking, nutrition and food skills,” Watts said. “We encourage everyone to come know that we are ready to accommodate all culinary skills and answer questions.”
Find the latest information, healthy recipes and announcements on the CalFresh Healthy Living Website And Instagram page.
