Adults with diabetes can learn how to make healthy, delicious meals at a Kitchen Creations cooking school. The next one will be from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Wednesday’s, Jan. 17, 24, 31 and Feb. 7 at the Hidalgo Medical Center, Community Health Center, 1007 N. Pope Street, Silver City, NM 88061. This series of four classes will be taught by Lauren Baker, Grant County Extension Agent and Christine Cutbirth, RD, LD- HMS Registered Dietitian. Participants will learn food safety, how to plan meals, read food labels, manage carbohydrates and other tips. They will also prepare and sample recipes.
Over 10 percent of adults in New Mexico have diabetes. Research has shown that lifestyle changes, including healthier eating, can help manage diabetes and reduce the risk of complications.
“Many people with diabetes struggle with what to eat,” said Cassandra Vanderpool, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with New Mexico State University (NMSU). “Kitchen Creations opens their eyes to a wide variety of options to enjoy healthy eating. Plus, participants cook and do other activities in the classes to help them succeed in managing diabetes at home.”
Hundreds of New Mexicans participate in Kitchen Creations every year. A participant reported, “I’ve lost 8 pounds when I went to the doctor last, and my blood sugar has normalized, and my A1C has stabilized, and my cholesterol has lowered, because of the things I learned in this class.”
To enroll in the Kitchen Creations cooking school for free, go to diabetes.nmsu.edu or contact the Grant County Cooperative Extension Service at 575-388-1559. This program is sponsored by the New Mexico Department of Health Diabetes Prevention and Control Program and offered by the NMSU Cooperative Extension Service as part of the Paths to Health NM: Tools for Healthier Living initiative. Visit www.pathstohealthnm.org for more information. These series are also sponsored by Presbyterian Community Health. NMSU, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator. If you are an individual with a disability who is in need of an auxiliary aid or service to participate, please call 575-542-9294 by Jan.16.
