"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - Cherokee Nation to Host Healthy Cooking Class

***"Michelle Brooks and Denise Brown learn healthy cooking ideas from the Cherokee Nation healthy cooking class."***

Post-holiday guilt is something many individuals face each year. The average American gains weight during the “holiday season,” meaning the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Years. At the start of 2010, the Cherokee Nation will be hosting a special class on healthy cooking which will run for a total of four weeks beginning Thursday, January 14, from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at the First Christian Church in Bartlesville.

“We know that if we and our families are healthy, we will have stronger communities,” said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. “It is our hope that not only our Cherokee citizens, but our friends and neighbors living here will also take advantage of this opportunity.”

Cherokee Nation Healthy Nation hosts more than a dozen of these classes each year throughout the tribe’s 14-county jurisdiction, with an average of 140 individuals participating.

Past class participant Denise Brown said she enjoyed getting to actually do the cooking as part of the course. In addition, she said learning how to cook healthier made a difference without much effort.

“I found out that just simple changes in what you cook with can make a difference in what you eat without changing the taste,” Brown said. “I loved the dishes that we made. They were all simple and delicious.”

Other class participants also indicated they were surprised at how a few simple changes could make meals healthier without changing the taste.

“I really enjoyed the healthy cooking class,” said Lisa Leach of Maryetta. “The hands-on experience of actually preparing the meals from the cookbook was great. It showed me that it doesn't really take any more time to cook healthier than it does to prepare meals that aren't as healthy. I was also encouraged to try foods that I might not normally eat, and found that I liked them.”

There is no cost to attend and the class is open to anyone interested in participating. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Participants should plan to attend all four classes. For more information or to register for the class, contact Jaime Clark, Cherokee Nation Healthy Nation Coordinator, phone: 918-559-2372 or by email: jaime-clark@cherokee.org.