HOPE LAB
Cooking Demonstrations
Hands-on Skill Development
Each cooking demonstration is conducted by a Registered Dietitian. Demonstrations help participants learn basic cooking techniques, develop knife skills, and build confidence in the kitchen. These demonstrations provide hands-on tutorials and unique recipes to encourage participation. Allowing the opportunity to try new foods and experience hands-on instruction inspires participants to think of new possibilities for how to prepare their favorite vegetables and fruits in innovative ways.
Garden Produce
To ensure participants understand how to use vegetables, fruits, and herbs harvested from HOPE Gardens and incorporate them into their dietary patterns, staff at Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory provide detailed descriptions of appropriate techniques for harvesting and storage. In addition, produce from HOPE Gardens is incorporated into cooking demonstrations to highlight how items can be used in a manner that aligns with evidence-based guidelines.
Plant-Focused Dietary Patterns
The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), the American Cancer Society (ACS), and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans emphasize the incorporation of plant-based foods into dietary patterns for cancer and chronic disease prevention and improved health outcomes. Our cooking demonstrations provide an opportunity for participants to see how meals and snacks can be developed to align with a dietary pattern rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and beans.
