A virtual cooking class focusing on heart-healthy meals will take place on September 9, 2023, from 19:00 to 20:15 (UTC) via Zoom. The program, titled “Whole Grains for Everyday,” is organized by the Groton Public Library. Participants will learn how to create nutritious dishes like Farro Bowls and Fall Harvest Quinoa, emphasizing the incorporation of whole grains into daily cooking.
The class will be led by Christine Van Bloem, a seasoned cooking instructor who has shifted her culinary focus toward healthier options following her recovery from a heart attack in 2020. Van Bloem, who previously owned a brick-and-mortar cooking school, now dedicates her efforts to teaching home cooks how to prepare flavorful meals with lighter, heart-healthy adjustments.
In her own words, “Instead of using a stick of butter, I’ll use a touch. Instead of a cup of cream, just a tablespoon or two.” She aims to strike a balance between health and taste, ensuring that meals remain enjoyable while being nutritious. As an empty nester, Van Bloem has also adapted her cooking to suit two-person meals and finds joy in sharing this culinary journey with others.
Van Bloem’s expertise is further backed by her training in culinary nutrition with the American College of Culinary Medicine. There, she researched the Mediterranean diet and menopause for her capstone project, completing her studies in 2024.
“Online classes are so much more fun than I ever anticipated,” Van Bloem remarked. “It’s such an incredible way to make a connection with students around the country and even help impact their dinner table. Isn’t that great?”
The cooking class is made possible in part by the Groton Public Library Endowment Trust and is presented in collaboration with several local libraries. The session will be recorded, with all registrants receiving a link to the video within 48 hours of the event.
To register for the class, interested participants can visit the Groton Public Library’s website at gpl.org. More information about Christine Van Bloem and her culinary endeavors can be found at EmptyNestKitchen.com.
