K-State's SNAP-Ed program is hosting a series of free online sessions to help increase Kansans' knowledge of nutrition, cooking, food safety, budgeting and physical activity.
Free, online classes aim to improve cooking, healthy living
SNAP-Ed teams with United Health Care for Create Better Health series
Dec. 15, 2021
MANHATTAN, Kan. – A Kansas State University program that helps low income Kansans make healthy choices through nutrition and physical activity has joined forces with United Health Care of Kansas to provide free online classes in 2022.
Lisa Ross, a registered dietitian and coordinator of K-State’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed), said the groups will work together to increase Kansans’ knowledge of nutrition, cooking, food safety, budgeting and physical activity.
The classes are called Create Better Health.
“People who don’t have access to healthy foods are less likely to have good nutrition,” Ross said. “That raises their risk of such health conditions as heart disease, diabetes and obesity; and even lowers life expectancy relative to people who do have access to healthy foods.”
Registration for the free classes is available on the Kansas SNAP-Ed website (click on the ‘Free Classes’ tab and indicate whether you qualify for free classes). Five sessions, each consisting of six classes, are planned in 2022, including:
- Jan. 12, 19, 26; Feb. 2, 9, 16 – Wednesdays 4-5 p.m.
- March 9, 16, 23, 30; April 6, 13 – Wednesdays noon to 1 p.m.
- April 26; May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 – Tuesdays noon to 1 p.m.
- June 13-July 18 – day and time to be determined.
- Aug. 1-Sept. 15 – day and time to be determined.
Ross said that participants who attend all six classes in any one session will receive a $25 gift, such as an electric skillet, slow cooker, baking dishes or item of their choice made possible through funds provided by United Health Care. All classes in the series will be led by a SNAP-Ed nutrition educator.
“United Health Care sees people with chronic health conditions and understands how important good nutrition is to decreasing the prevalence of chronic disease and poor health outcomes,” Ross said. “They contacted (Kansas SNAP-Ed staff) with an interest in providing the support for their clients to learn about how to have healthy diets and be more physically active on a limited income.”
She added that United Health Care’s funding of the $25 gift is for their clients and any income-eligible Kansan wishing to participate.
“Kansas SNAP-Ed supports low-income Kansans by making the healthy choice the easy choice through a dual focus on nutrition and physical activity education, and forming partnerships with local and statewide organizations to improve policies, systems and environments that support healthy behaviors,” Ross said.
More information on the Create Better Health series is available online from the Kansas SNAP-Ed program.
