The Cancer Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing cancer prevention, is offering a free eight-session cooking course designed to help the public prevent and survive cancer through proper diet and nutrition. The classes — offered on Wednesdays, started Sept. 26 and continue until Nov. 14, from noon to 1 p.m. — are taught at Herndon Curves on Grant Street.
Jan Graves, the class instructor, concentrates on a low-fat vegetarian diet that is rich in antioxidants and fiber. "It’s very informative. She knows what she’s doing," said Jackie Kordella, a manager at Curves. She said it is the second time Curves will host the class. "It is popular and it fills up fast," said Kordella. The class is open to everyone, not just Curves members, and it encompasses a presentation on the health benefits of preparing each meal as well as where to get the ingredients for that meal. About 35 people are permitted to attend per class. "[Graves] truly believes in what she is doing," said Kordella. "She is not trying to convert you to being vegan, but is showing you that there is an alternative to eating meat every night."
According to Kordella, Curves chose to host the cooking course because its mission compliments Curves’s mission of promoting healthy lifestyles. "It teaches you how to eat properly while working out. It goes hand-in-hand," said Kordella. Although the course consists of eight sessions, Kordella said participants do not have to attend every class to benefit. "You can jump in any time," she said. The topics of the classes include Discovering Dairy Alternatives, Replacing Meat and Immune-Boosting Foods.
For more information, contact Curves at 703-707-9011 or visit www.CancerProject.org.