By The People’s Paper MS Staff
MAGEE, Miss.— Adults looking to master the kitchen can sharpen their knives and stretch their grocery budgets this August at the Magee Library.
The Mississippi State University Extension Service is launching a free, six-week Cooking Matters course starting August 3. The weekly two-hour classes run from 10 a.m. to noon every Monday through September 4 at the library.
Trained educators will lead hands-on sessions covering food preparation, smart grocery shopping, budgeting, and nutrition. Participants will gain practical skills like reading food labels, proper knife techniques, and cutting up a whole chicken. Every class includes time to practice preparing recipes and tasting the final dishes.
“MSU Extension Services is excited to present this free course intended for adults,” Magee Library Branch Manager Alice Green said.
A primary goal of the program is helping locals make heart-healthy choices. Instructors will highlight how to flavor dishes with herbs and spices instead of salt, introduce whole grains, and demonstrate how to roast vegetables. Participants will also learn about the federal government’s updated MyPlate nutritional guidelines.
“With Mississippi having a high rate of high blood pressure, the Cooking Matters for adults lets participants try foods without salt,” MSU Extension’s Tammy Layton said. “They will learn how to prepare recipes with foods from multiple food groups, practice basic knife skills, and prepare healthier convenience foods.”
Past participants say the course changes how their families eat. Nikki, a graduate of the program, discovered that food can be both healthy and flavorful. Another graduate, Cassidy, said the course brought her family closer together.
“This course has affected my household greatly,” Cassidy said. “We cook more together and I feel more confident in the kitchen.”
The program is funded by the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Mississippi Department of Human Services.
Locals can sign up by contacting Tammy Layton or the Magee Library at 601-847-1335, or via email at tml140@msstate.edu. Additional healthy lifestyle resources are available at www.happyhealthy.ms.
