PORTLAND, Ore. — And come they do, to the Cooking Matters class at Fred Meyer-Stadium’s demonstration kitchen.
Oregon Food Bank volunteers teach Cooking Matters around the state. It’s a national curriculum designed to teach healthy food preparation on a budget. CareOregon hosts this particular six-week class for its members and supplies bus tickets while Oregon Food Bank supplies the groceries and volunteer instructors, and Fred Meyer provides the facility.
“Cooking Matters is a good fit for our Medicaid members,” says Rebecca Ramsay, executive director of Population Health Partnerships at CareOregon. “A lot of conditions our members have, like heart disease or diabetes, are very responsive to a healthy diet. And all our members can benefit from eating healthier. There is more and more evidence that what we eat has a significant effect on overall health so we invest in nutrition because it makes sense over the long term for our members.”
Nearly one in six Oregonians report “food insecurity,” according to a federal report (https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/err215/err-215.pdf), and one in four Oregonians qualifies for the state’s Medicaid program. Helping low-income people have better nutrition is a clear win from a health standpoint.
“You don’t find things like this coming out of a health plan: hands-on lifestyle change,” says Amy Allen, who manages clinical food and nutrition support programs at CareOregon. “We’ve had people switch health plans so they could take these classes.”
The pairing of resources like the Oregon Food Bank and the Fred Meyer demonstration kitchen makes it possible for CareOregon to host this class for members.
“We love the Fred Meyer kitchen,” says food bank volunteer Paula Young. “It’s a beautiful facility. We teach this class in church basements, school kitchens and food pantries, but this is the best. We really appreciate it.”
Allen agrees: “We’re grateful for our community partners.”
Members have many reasons enrolling — and for staying.
“I can’t think of anything better CareOregon could have done,” says Shirley, a CareOregon member whose disability keeps her from working. “This makes such a difference in my daily life, food-wise and socially.”
“I just want to learn healthier ways to eat,” says Candace. Her autoimmune disease is sensitive to diet, and limits her food preparation abilities, like cutting.
Chef Camille reviews the week’s recipe and shows the class how to do the steps. Volunteers coach the participants on dredging the chicken, cutting sweet potatoes into “fries” and seasoning sautéed greens.
“I’m impressed with the food, and the quality of the instruction,” says Shirley. “The instructors are great, friendly and knowledgeable and good with older people.”
Camille blends in food handling tips, like the safest way to thaw frozen meats. While the food is in the oven, she provides nutritional tips. One week it was healthy oils. This week it’s sugar.
“If there’s one thing you can do, cut sugar out of your diet,” she says. Americans eat an average of 140 pounds of sugar a year and it contributes to diabetes, heart disease and other conditions. To show how much sugar is in some popular drinks, Camille held up a baggie containing an amount of table sugar equal to the amount of sugar in each bottled drink. Some drinks contain a week’s worth of the recommended daily allowance of sugar.
Recipes span breakfast, lunch and dinner. Even experienced cooks learn healthy tips: “I found out I can substitute yogurt for cream cheese,” says Ruth. “And we learned which oils are healthiest.”
One of the six classes is devoted to navigating the grocery store. Participants will pick ingredients for a meal for four people for under $10. Back in the demonstration kitchen, they’ll describe and compare recipes. Whoever’s recipe is healthiest will get a prize.
CareOregon plans to host three additional six-week classes this year at the Fred Meyer kitchen to help more members learn healthy food habits. Good nutrition gives them a foundation for a lifetime of wellness.
For information, contact Jeanie Lunsford, 503-416-3626, [email protected].
About CareOregon
CareOregon is a nonprofit community benefits company that’s been involved in health plan services, reforms and innovations since 1994, serving Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid) and Medicare members and their communities. Our mission is cultivating individual well-being and community health through shared learning and innovation. Our vision is healthy communities for all individuals, regardless of income or social circumstances. We focus on the total health of our members, not just traditional health care. In teaming up with members, their families and their communities, we help Oregonians live better lives, prevent illness and respond effectively to health issues.
