Cooking Well Series

Resources for this program are provided by county agents directly. The link to this program requires login credentials. If you are interested in this series, please contact your county agent.

The Cooking Well Series is a suite of programs which includes various lessons of interactive classes with research-based information accompanied by a cooking component. Each program includes recipes that align with their respective lesson objectives.

Cooking Well with Diabetes is designed to help people with diabetes and anyone who prepares food for them. The lessons include an adaptation of the Plate Method for portion control. The materials are based on the American Diabetes Association and Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommendations and current trends in medical nutrition therapy.

Cooking Well for a Healthy Blood Pressure is a program designed to prevent and manage high blood pressure through healthy eating and lifestyle changes. Cooking Well for a Healthy Blood Pressure touches on the DASH eating pattern, grocery shopping for a healthy blood pressure, and cooking with spices and herbs.

Cooking Well with Friends offers active families a practical program to show mealtime decision makers how to safely and effectively prepare meals to freeze and keep on hand. Cooking Well with Friends is a hands-on workshop that teaches how to safely and effectively plan, prepare, freeze, and cook healthy meals.

Cooking Well Exploring Cultures aims to educate participants on nutrition, food safety, and healthy cooking techniques via interest in cultural cuisine. This program also aims to expand ingredients and techniques familiar to participants to increase confidence when cooking diverse recipes.

In Texas, there is a high prevalence of diet-related chronic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. Consuming a healthy diet could prevent or delay diet-related chronic diseases and could help reduce healthcare costs. The 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend choosing a variety of nutrient-dense foods from all food groups, which are vegetables, fruits, grains, protein, and dairy products. Consuming a variety of foods from different food groups, also known as dietary diversity, ensures nutritional adequacy and better diet quality. The programs include recommendations on how to modify recipes for good health by reducing saturated fats, sodium, and added sugars as well as modify recipes for common intolerances or allergies.

The Cooking Well Suite programs are available state-wide and can be found on various platforms such as in-person, hybrid, and digital education. Collaborations and partnerships vary between counties as County Extension Agents partner with local agencies as they work together to identify the needs of their county.