Delnor Hospital Community Kitchen offers cooking classes

A healthy diet begins in the kitchen. The Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital Community Kitchen is offering complimentary nutrition and cooking classes this fall season.

The kitchen, located near the main entrance of Delnor Hospital, 300 Randall Road in Geneva, is a place for people of all ages to learn about nutrition in a fun, engaging environment.

Learn how to boost your intake of healthy foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, healthy fats and proteins by preparing recipes yourself. No previous cooking experience is required.

The following are the "Hungry for Health" classes for adults:

• Learn how to sneak veggies into dessert recipes and natural ways to sweeten your sweets in "Healthy Desserts to Live For" from 2 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25.

• Try your hand at canning simple raspberry jam to use for a fancy brunch, an ice cream topping or a hostess gift in "Canning Summer Jam and Making Applesauce" from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Sept. 26. Plus, learn to make easy and freezable applesauce.

• Compare the differences and benefits of some popular kinds of milk, learn how to use them, and taste them for yourself in "Popular Milk Comparisons: Is Drinking Milk Bad for You?" from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26.

•A smoothie can be full of empty calories, or it can be an easy, healthful source of nutrients. Learn how to make healthy smoothies with better ingredients in "Smoothies: A Healthy and Delicious Way to Get Your Fruits and Veggies" from 3 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3, or Tuesday, Nov. 13.

• Sharpen your culinary skills in "Knife Skills 101," a hands-on technique class from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3.

• Pumpkin, apple, cinnamon and cloves - embrace autumn's flavors in this cooking class where you will learn healthy, fall-inspired recipes in "Fall Flavors: Pumpkin Fever" from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 4.

• Keep your blood sugar under control while enjoying appetizers at holiday gatherings in "Diabetes-Friendly Appetizers for the Holidays." Prepare and sample three recipes from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 5.

• Utilize fresh vegetables and herbs to create flatbreads and galettes to serve as a main dish or an appetizer in "Savory Flatbreads and Galettes" from 2 to 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9.

• Come and learn about the wonderful health benefits of pumpkins and how to incorporate them into tasty fall recipes in "Power of Pumpkin" from 1 to 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12.

• Learn how to combat stress and which nutrients are important to your brain health and the brain-gut connection in "Eat Right to Boost Your Mental Health." Sample wild-caught salmon salad with mushrooms, mixed greens, a homemade salad dressing and walnuts from 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Oct. 23 or Dec. 18.

• This class will focus on the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet, incorporating vegetables, fruits and whole grains into your meal plan in "Heart Healthy Cooking" from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24.

• Have fun preparing a variety of dishes with oats in "Oats and More Oats!" from 2 to 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25.

• "Healthy Gluten Free Eating" will focus on healthy gluten free substitutions from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 8.

The "Child Friendly" classes will be:

• Got the munchies on the weekends but don't want to overdo calories? Try these healthier snacking options in "Weekender Fall Snacks" for children ages 8 to 14 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10.

• In "Fun with Apple Harvest," children ages 6 or older with a parent will learn healthy and practical apple recipes that the kids will love, including apple pie, oatmeal and apple cider muffins, from 4 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16.

• Children ages 8 to 14 will learn how to make holiday hors d'oeuvres that won't bust your calorie budget in "Healthy Holiday Appetizers" from 4:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7.

• Children ages 6 or older with a parent, will prepare a homemade snack in five minutes in "Simple Quick Snacks" from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20.

The Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital Community Kitchen features a main island with appliances and a food prep area, seating around the main island for viewing, two additional workstations with appliances, and audio/visual capability to broadcast demonstrations to nearby conference rooms.

It is used for community wellness programs, as well as patient education sessions coordinated by the Northwestern Medicine Metabolic Health and Surgical Weight Loss Center.

Search for classes online or download a complete listing of classes by visiting www.nm.org/patients-and-visitors/classes-and-events/western-suburbs.

Select classes under category and choose "Hungry for Health" in category type. To register for sessions, call (630) 933-4234. TTY for the hearing-impaired, (639) 933-4833.