Healthy eating classes to be offered at Crystal Lake Food Pantry

The Crystal Lake Food Pantry will offer a series of healthy eating courses this month. The free classes, titled the "Whole Body Approach to Disease Prevention," will be held weekly for 10 weeks starting March 22. Participants will receive produce and a recipe at the end of each class.

The classes will be 9 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays at the Crystal Lake Food Pantry,42 East St. in Crystal Lake. Registration is required.

The class is modeled after a curriculum developed by the Northern Illinois Food Bank and Northern Illinois University.

"These classes are designed to help you make positive changes in your lifestyle," said Carol Waggoner, an educator for the McHenry County Department of Health.

"We recognize that there is so much more involved in eating healthy than just knowing which foods are nutritious; that's why we focus on the whole body."

Course topics include stress management, positive thinking, enjoyable physical activity and a cooking demonstration, according to a news release.

Although this is the first time the class has been offered in McHenry County, plans are underway to have the class in Harvard and McHenry in the late summer or early fall.

"Whole Body Approach of Disease Prevention" is a partnership between the Northern Illinois Food Bank, Crystal Lake Food Pantry and the McHenry County Department of Health. For questions or to register for the course, call Carol Waggoner at (815) 334-4580.