NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IN THE FAMILY CIRCLE

NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IN THE FAMILY CIRCLE

When the family circle is broken, it causes chaos. Since Spring of 2024, I have been blessed working with Passavant Hospital Foundation, Bridge to Hope, offering what I know the best, International Cooking Classes and Nutrition. The B2H organization offers a wide variety of programs for families who have addicts in the family, and it’s all for free.

Addiction is heartbreaking and dealing with a family member who is addicted can be trying and can lead to despair. The classes help those dealing with addiction to focus on something other than their circumstances.

During each class, I always make sure that my participants get a chance to relax, enjoy that hour and the half, have fun, and learn. For that reason, we only work with ingredients that are vibrant in color and exude pleasant aromas. A good example would be fresh dill or basil, vibrant in color, their aromas pop out the minute you start creating with them. Working with ingredients that are full of Vitamin C has been proven to be effective in coping with depression because it produces serotonin. Making a new dish can be intimidating at first. For instance, Spring Rolls seem tricky when using finicky rice paper, but in the end, my students end up laughing because even a kindergarten can make the dish.

When I see my participants, they are all smiles, thrilled to see me and their friends, who’ve they bonded with over something so trying. So, I have to stop and think to myself, how blessed those of us are who are not dealing with addiction. And as a chef and educator, I want all my readers to keep in mind, when a person is in distress, the first thing that comes to his mind is to do something with yourself, do something that "relaxes" you. Usually in the best case , that means indulging in a box of chocolate, a bag of chips or in the worst-case – alcohol or drugs. But remember, unfortunately, those fixes are only temporary. However, when you are in the kitchen, making something with your own hands and knowing you will be able to taste your creations once it is done, the process will stimulate your brain and will put your mind to rest.

Cooking is another form of art and art is how we express ourselves. When our eyes meet something vibrant it makes us happy. When our nose smells something delicious - makes us smile and when we taste something delicious, it brings comfort to our soul. Happy soul = Happy person.

Don't cook alone, invite a friend, neighbor, sibling, or child. Company makes it perfect, in person or virtually.

La Dolce Vita!!

Until next month!