Holyoke Community College to Debut Healthy Cooking Series for 2023

HOLYOKE — Anyone resolving to eat healthier in the new year may consider enrolling in two new cooking series running next month at the HCC MGM Culinary Arts Institute.

“Healthy Cooking for Heart Health,” a three-session series, begins Jan. 10 and runs on Tuesdays from 6 to 9 p.m. “Healthy Cooking for Diabetes,” also a three-session series, begins Jan. 12 and runs on Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m.

All classes for both series are taught by Marissa Chiapperino, a registered dietician and instructor in HCC’s Culinary Arts program.

“Certain foods can lower your risk of heart disease and diabetes or help to manage it,” Chiapperino said. “Making healthy adjustments to your daily meal plan does not have to be hard or boring. Oftentimes, adding in sources of healthy fats, whole grains, and high-fiber fruits and vegetables can boost flavor and decrease the risk of chronic disease.”

Each session costs $80 and includes cooking lessons and lectures focused on different themes. In “Healthy Cooking for Heart Health,” they include breakfast and carbohydrates on Jan. 10, lunch and fats on Jan. 17, and dinner and proteins on Jan. 24. In “Healthy Cooking for Diabetes,” the themes include meal prep and counting carbs on Jan. 12, snacks and the power of protein on Jan. 19, and diabetes-friendly breakfast and fats on Jan. 26.

“Helping people in all types of settings understand accurate and evidence-based nutrition and how to individualize it best for them is key to long-term success and managing chronic disease,” Chiapperino said.

Chiapperino holds a bachelor’s degree in dietetics from the State University of New York at Oneonta and a master of public health degree from UMass Amherst. She specialized in medical nutrition therapy for critical care and oncology at Westchester Medical Center in New York and was the first bariatric dietician at Holyoke Medical Center, where she helped build its nutrition program. For the past two years, she has been president of the Western Massachusetts Dietetic Assoc.

To register for classes, visit hcc.edu/healthy-cooking.