Cooking Classes in North Iowa

Learning how to cook is not just about mastering recipes; it’s a fundamental skill that can significantly impact our health and well-being. By understanding how to prepare meals from scratch, individuals gain control over the ingredients they consume, allowing for healthier choices and portion control. Moreover, cooking at home encourages the incorporation of fresh, whole foods, which are essential for maintaining a balanced diet and supporting overall health. Emphasizing local food sourcing further enhances the nutritional quality of meals, as locally grown produce is often fresher, more flavorful, and richer in nutrients compared to commercially processed alternatives. Join us for our cooking classes, where you’ll not only learn practical cooking techniques but also discover the benefits of incorporating locally sourced ingredients into your culinary repertoire, empowering you to take charge of your health and vitality one delicious meal at a time.

At Healthy Harvest of North Iowa, we are at our best when we connect various players in the local food scene to bring you top-notch programming. Contact Amelia Attwood, RD, LD – recipes@healthyharvestni.com to bring your collab ideas to life.

Our Class “Menu”

Dreaming of hosting a cooking or gardening class? Here are a few delectable options that Healthy Harvest of North Iowa has taught in the past and can bring to life for our partners. Or, if you prefer, we can collaborate to create custom content tailored to your specific needs!

Food tastes better and is more nutritious when it’s fresh. And in these times, when obesity and diet related illnesses are on the rise, replacing heavily processed foods with whole fresh produce will improve your health. Join Healthy Harvest of North Iowa for a deep dive into what it really means to eat with the seasons and how to plan your meals accordingly. Students will learn about the growing season in North Iowa and how to source and prepare local foods year-round.

Have you ever considered writing a cookbook or starting a recipe blog? In this interactive course, we will take a look into the different styles of recipe writing and help you decide your personal style and purpose.

Keeping our local farmers and producers in business supports our local economy.  Dollars spent close to home tend to stay close to home.  Our local producers understand our community and work to provide nutritious affordable food for all our citizens.  The more we feel connected to the people who produce what we eat, the better we preserve our regional food heritage. Join Healthy Harvest of North Iowa to learn all about the local farms in our region, how to get their products, and the impact you can have by choosing to eat locally.

Home gardening can be an excellent way to “get your hands dirty” when understanding where your food comes from. Whether you are looking to do some small container gardens, a raised bed garden, or tilling up a half acre of your yard, gardening provides food, movement, and connection to the Earth that is good for the mind, body, and soul. Join us to learn some fun and easy ways to start your seeds.

Baseball games, poolside days, picnics on blankets – summertime is near! Join Healthy Harvest of North Iowa to learn how to pack on-the-go meals that will nourish and energize your long summer days.

Over the wintertime, we hosted a series of cooking classes around Franklin County! By utilizing local flour, beef, dairy we were able to find so many great ways to cook locally and seasonally before farmers markets even began! Thanks to our friends Prudent Produce, we were also able to source high quality veggies in the wintertime. These Franklin County classes would not have been made possible without our generous partner Michelle Hartman (Tupperware by Michelle Hartman “Crazy Tupperware Lady” ), providing class participants with tools such as choppers and blender bottles to make cooking quick, easy, and effective.

In March, we made Reuben Nachos and Shamrock Shakes at Block 10 at 1921 City Hall in Sheffield. This class celebrated St. Patrick’s day in style with a green juice from God Fuel, Reuben meat from Block 10, and cabbage generously donated by Organic Greens LLC . This class gave participants the opportunity to make their own probiotic snack (sauerkraut) and naturally dye their shamrock shakes (by adding spinach).
In May, we were led by expert baker, Cathy Carlson, in making Whole Wheat Fiesta Pizzas while at the Carlson Tree Farm. Cathy discussed the methodology starting out with “baby bottle” warm liquid as not to kill the yeast, kneading the dough and carefully adding marginal amounts of flour if sticky, and letting the dough rise while completing any other household task. Cathy shared that this recipe was commonly used in her household after completing farm chores. This whole wheat pizza crust was transformed with fiesta toppings, all of which showcasing local Iowa ingredients.
Amelia Attwood RD, LDSpecial Projects Manager
Amelia Attwood, RD, LD, is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian with a strong commitment to nutrition education. During her tenure with Healthy Harvest of North Iowa, she has facilitated workshops and classes, exposing individuals to cooking, meal preparation, and nutrition planning. Amelia’s passion lies in promoting dietary wellness and providing practical tools for healthy living.