Senior Resource Center Raised Garden and Cooking Demonstrations

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2018

Using vegetables and herbs grown in on site raised beds by seniors at the center, The New Hanover County Senior Resource Center (SRC) hosts free cooking demonstrations each month for older adults, to help turn nutrition education information into action on the part of the senior population. Blending nutrition counseling with practical hands-on cooking demonstrations encourages lower income seniors to make healthier food choices and improve their overall nutrition. Studies show that education is better learned as more senses are utilized. By listening, seeing, and tasting, more people will retain healthy eating information (Science Daily). Additionally, it is on target with the NHC strategic objective of increasing access to programs to prevent and reduce obesity, a strategic plan developed after 60% of the participants of the NHC 2015 Community Health Assessment reported a BMI in the overweight/obesity range. The demonstrations are promoted to the general senior public via word of mouth, notices at the SRC, the SRC newsletter, and through postings on the SRC website and Facebook page.