Seniors Can Cook With Class

When Martin Yudell talks about food, you can hear his enthusiasm.

"All my life I've loved food," says Yudell, who lives in Boca Raton, Fla.

Restaurants were always appealing. But recently, Yudell took cooking classes at the Florida Culinary Institute in West Palm Beach. Now, it's the companionship and the achievement of making such recipes as the Greek dish moussaka that thrill him.

Like Yudell, you can enjoy cooking classes, even if you've prepared meals most of your life. You can learn techniques that help your health and your budget while you're having fun.

You don't eat the way you did when you were in your 20s. You've probably cut back on calories and fat and reduced your sodium intake. A cooking class can show you how to make those changes taste better as you create a healthy, balanced diet.

Lisa Jones, R.D., says her Philadelphia classes have covered such topics as how to get more calcium and vitamin D, cook vegetables, and prepare healthy foods. Her students recently included a husband and wife in their 80s. "She doesn't want to cook anymore and he was just diagnosed with diabetes." They need foods that are easy to prepare and fit into a diabetic meal plan, says Jones, who specializes in senior nutrition.

Important factors

Speed and ease are lesson essentials.

"My students want recipes that are fast and easy because seniors, more than any other group, know the value of their time and don't want to spend hours in the kitchen cooking," says Laura Bruzas, a Chicago cooking instructor and editor of the newsletter Healthy Dining Chicago.

Her recipes use seven ingredients or fewer and require only 10 to 15 minutes of preparation. They're also low in sodium and fat and high in dietary fiber.

Nutrition and convenience are important, but so is your budget. If you're concerned that you're spending too much on carryout or restaurant meals, learning how to fix a few quick meals can lower your food bills.

For example, you can make a vegetarian chili or a filling vegetable and pasta soup for less than $1.50 a serving, based on a recipe that makes four servings. That's less than you'd pay in many restaurants.

A cooking class can also replace a meal you'd otherwise have to make or buy. Instructors often encourage students to taste their culinary efforts.

And what an icebreaker food can be as you and your fellow students sit down to a snack or meal. "Every time I go [to a cooking class] I meet new people and have a wonderful time with them," Yudell says.

Find the right program

Preparing a recipe under a teacher's guidance is a great way to learn. But if you need a lot of advice—say, how to cook for someone with high blood pressure—pull up a chair instead.

"You can get more information in a demonstration class," says Andrew Schloss, a Philadelphia-area cooking instructor. Make sure the classroom has ample seating with sturdy chairs. You should be able to hear and see the instructor from any angle, says Schloss, author of Homemade in a Hurry .

You can find demonstration classes at senior centers, public libraries, and hospitals. Library-sponsored classes are usually free or have a minimal cost. They're often held during the day to make it easier for seniors to attend, Jones says.

Hospitals are another source. Bruzas suggests you sign up for the newsletter of a nearby hospital to see what's offered. Senior center classes may give you the opportunity to learn a dish and share a meal afterward, Jones says.