Helping individuals and groups achieve their health goals
through a whole-food, plant-powered and planet-friendly way of
eating; specializing in healthy, vegan cooking classes in San Diego
Healthy Eating Presentations and Cooking Classes
The mission of Veg Appeal is to promote vibrant health. We want to empower you to make healthy food and lifestyle choices. Our specialty is classes and presentations for busy people. Themes include:
• whole food, plant-based nutrition
• simple, everyday cooking
• meal planning and preparation
• lean meals for a lean budget
• transitioning from processed to whole foods, and
• shopping techniques and kitchen organizing
Classes are designed to meet the needs of the particular audience and can be offered in homes, community centers, work places, gyms, schools, or health food stores. We encourage that you plan to take a series of classes highlighting different aspects of healthy eating and food preparation. One-time presentations are also available. Classes may include cooking demonstrations, and participants have the opportunity to taste the delicious food prepared. Examples of specific classes include:
1. "Lean Meals on a Lean Budget" - In the last year, food prices have soared higher. Restaurants are charging more and grocery shopping is more challenging. What do you buy and prepare that is healthy, satisfying, and still stay within your budget? We will prepare a tasty dish and provide samples to taste, as well as provide recipes for more lean budget meals.
2. “Food on the Run” - Are you too busy to prepare healthy snacks? Do you have a hard time knowing what are healthy snacks? Are you concerned that your snacking is contributing to your weight gain? Relax - this presentation is designed to answer all of your weighty questions. We will provide a list of healthy snacks to grab before heading out the door and give you ideas on what choices to make at fast food restaurants for a very quick bite to eat. Finally, we will guide you on creating healthy snacks that you can have ready for your busy day.
3. "Meals on the Move - Simple, Fast Meals to Go" - We'll show you how to come up with ideas for healthy meals that you can prepare quickly or take with you to work, an event or a picnic. This class is geared to people who have busy schedules. It will give you tips on preparing simple meals to carry along when you leave home and will include a cooking demonstration and sampling of the food prepared.
4. "Healthy in a Hurry" - This presentation and cooking demonstration will focus on the basics of what constitutes a healthy diet and then narrow the focus to demonstrate how to put together healthy meals that can be prepared in 15 to 30 minutes. Breakfast, lunch and dinner foods will be demonstrated. Participants get to sample the food prepared, ask questions, and take home recipes.
5. “Festive & Healthy Holidays” - You don’t need to compromise your health during the holidays! You can splurge and have fun with your holiday meals while feeling good about what you are serving and eating. Come watch our healthy food demonstration and sample the foods prepared. We will give you plenty of ideas for meals to prepare which are delicious, healthy and festive.
6. "Breaking the Food Seduction – Moving Away from Addictive Foods" - We all have foods we can’t seem to resist – foods that sabotage our best efforts to lose or maintain our weight and improve our health. Chocolate, potato chips, cheese, burgers or fries may call you too loudly, but there are practical ways to break free from the seductive quality of these and other commonly alluring foods. Using information from Dr. Neal Barnard's book Breaking the Food Seduction, learn about diet and lifestyle changes that can break these craving cycles and sample foods prepared in a food demonstration.
7. "Eating Out – Taking Healthy Eating Out of Our Home" - Learn ways to eat healthy food when eating in restaurants, fast food establishments, or other people’s homes. Get tips, learn some simple strategies for enjoying eating out without compromising your health, and taste some delicious food prepared in our food demonstration.
8. "Retaining Bone Vitality" - Break the bone thinning cycle. Learn how to maintain and potentially increase your bone density. The latest clinical studies and the most up-to-date medical information tell us how to strengthen your bones, reduce the risk of fractures, and prevent osteoporosis. You may be surprised to learn that it doesn’t include taking calcium pills and eating dairy products. Low-acid eating is the answer! Sample and learn how to prepare delicious, filling dishes that help your body retain calcium instead of flushing it down the toilet!
9. "Vegetarian Eating: Healthy People, Healthy Planet" - Have you considered letting go of eating meat, but were afraid you might not get enough protein? Has the vegetarian diet held some appeal, but you don't know how to get started? This program will offer practical ways to make the transition to a diet with less meat and fewer dairy products and will explore the powerful links between our food, our health and the environment. A food demonstration is part of the program, and you get to sample what's prepared.
10. “Eat More, Weigh Less” - Learn how to cut calories and maintain or lose weight without feeling hungry. Of all the ways to lose weight, one stands out by far as the most healthful and easy to sustain. Build your meals from a generous variety fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes – whole foods. We’ll show you how easy and sustainable this can be!
11. “Shopping and Cooking Made Simple, Healthy, and Fast” - Learn what foods to keep on hand and how to combine them for delicious, fast and healthy meals and snacks. We will demonstrate how easy it is by preparing a few dishes for you. You will go home with a recommended “keep on hand” list, suggestions on where to shop, cooking tips, sample recipes, and much more. Join us for a fun, and tasty, evening.
