North Liberty Community Pantry uses grant to teach kitchen skills

NORTH LIBERTY - Jessi Williams knows what it's like to depend on a pantry for food.

At 16, she left home and admittedly struggled to make ends meet.

Now 33, and a graduate student in social work at the University of Iowa, she wants others in that situation to learn how make nutritious, yet inexpensive, meals.

Last month, the first of three Kitchen Helpers classes was held at the North Liberty Community Pantry, thanks to a $1,315.78 grant from the Clifford Be Big in Your Community contest sponsored by American Family Insurance.

Williams applied for the grant during an internship at the pantry last summer. In October, she was awarded second prize in collaboration with the pantry, an outreach ministry of the North Liberty First United Methodist Church, 85 N. Jones Blvd.

“I found out about the grant the day my practicum (for her UI coursework) ended,” she says.

Tina DuBois, the pantry's director, says the Kitchen Helpers program provides participants three things families need to prepare healthy meals - food, concrete items including a pot and utensils, and knowledge.

“Families choose their own food at the pantry rather than receiving prebagged food, but they don't always have the cookware and knowledge necessary to prepare healthy meals,” she says.

The North Liberty Family Resource Center referred 30 families to the program. At the first class Jan. 24, participants ate dinner made with spices and items from the pantry, including white bean soup, tuna noodle casserole, meatballs, spiced chicken and fruit dessert.

A booklet containing recipes for all the dishes and tips how to cook with spices, pasta and beans was given to the participants, who also received a 3-quart saucepan or skillet and ingredients to make one of the dishes.

Donna Hemingway, a registered dietitian from Iowa City, presented ways to cook with spices.

“Everybody tells me it's so expensive to eat healthy, but it's not - just add a few spices,” she says. “Spices are good for you and makes food taste better.”

For example, ginger root can calm stomach aches and onions can help keep bones strong.

Ginger powder or onion powder - both inexpensive and readily available - can be substituted for the actual roots or vegetables.

“It's important to try new things,” Hemingway says.

After the presentation, the participants broke off in small-group discussions.

“Cooking is almost like a part-time job by the time you shop, prepare, cook and clean up,” Hemingway told her small group.

However, preparing meals yourself is typically cheaper and more nutritious, she says.

Erica Anderson, 33, of North Liberty, expressed concern about her 3-year-old son who only likes to eat chicken nuggets, grilled cheese and fruit.

“Say, ‘this is what we're having' and be firm,” Hemingway suggested.

Another woman in the group suggested making homemade chicken nuggets or sneaking vegetables into meals.

Anderson and the woman exchanged phone numbers and plan to trade recipes and tips.

Williams, who secured the grant, was pleased with the interaction among the participants.

“I hope they take home one skill,” she says. “I'm not thinking I'm going to change the world but it's important that the kids here learn the skills.”