Pop quiz time!

1. What is a great way to connect with family and friends?
2. What is a simple approach to keeping portion sizes in check?
3. What is one thing we can do to help improve our food system?
4. What is one way we can learn something new and boost creativity?
5. What is the single most important thing we can do to improve our health?

The answer to all five questions is the same: Cook.

With all the benefits that cooking provides, it’s hard to imagine that Americans spend more time watching cooking shows than they spend actually cooking!

There are many reasons people cite for not cooking, but it usually comes down to lack of time or lack of skill. But as we understand more about the advantages of cooking (and the consequences of relying too much on processed and fast foods), the easier it becomes to prioritize it.

And contrary to what many believe, you do not have to have special talent or training, or spend hours in the kitchen to be able to cook a delicious meal. With real food ingredients and a just a few simple techniques, anyone can master the basics of cooking.

Check out the resources below to help your employees appreciate the value of a good home-cooked meal, and start having more fun in the kitchen!

Tips for Coordinators:

• Arrange an outing for employees to take a local cooking class together, or bring one in to your workplace.  
• Read and share this article on six reasons why cooking with your kids is important (written from a dad’s perspective).
• Schedule a lunch-n-learn and show a cooking basics Youtube video or online cooking lesson so ideas and questions can be shared communally in your workplace for the benefit of all.
• Organize a company-wide healthy recipe contest. You could even put all the recipes together into a cookbook!

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Please click here to read this month's E-tips titled "7 strategies to make cooking easy and fun."

To share these E-tips with employees:  

• Email the E-tips document to your staff as an attachment. 1) Click the link to download and save the E-tips to your computer. 2) Add your organization's logo in the bottom left corner. 3) Then send it as an email attachment to staff. 
• Print the document once you've added your organization's logo and post it in a common area in your workplace.
• Copy and paste the text into your organization's newsletter.
• Email the link to the E-tips document to your staff. Copy and paste this link (http://www.hennepin.us/-/media/hennepinus/residents/health-medical/public-health-promotion/march-employee-etip.doc?la=en).

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