Unlock the power of food as a pathway toward optimum health and wellness while learning to make delicious, vibrant meals that you can recreate at home. “Nourish: Using Food As Medicine For Optimum Health” is a five-week culinary nutrition cooking class series led by Holistic Nutrition Coach Holly Marban, MS, at the Sitka Kitch community rental commercial kitchen. In honor of National Nutrition Month in March, you’ll explore ways to nourish the body through healthy, delicious whole foods. Each class in this series will combine the science of nutrition with hands-on cooking for a fun, well-rounded experience. All recipes are plant-based and vegetarian, free from gluten and refined sugars, and can easily be made dairy-free.

• Class 1: Nutrition Foundations — 6-8 p.m.on Monday, March 6
  • In this class you’ll learn the basics of nutrition and how to nourish your body through whole foods. We’ll explore healthy, delicious options for protein, carbohydrates, and fats for overall health, as well as simple guides for food proportions, meal frequency, and a discussion about intuitive eating. We’ll cook black bean and vegetable tacos with homemade roasted tomato salsa, southwestern quinoa, and flavorful guacamole from scratch.

• Class 2: Balancing Blood Sugar Using Whole Foods — 6-8 p.m. on Monday, March 13
  • In this class, take the opportunity to explore the immense impact of blood sugar on overall health. Learn why balancing blood sugar is so important and how to use food to manage this aspect of health. We’ll make a vegetable frittata, simple green salad with homemade dressing, lentil salad with nuts and fresh herbs, and buckwheat granola. This class is sponsored by Sitka Community Hospital.

• Class 3: Everyday Superfoods — 6-8 p.m. on Monday, March 20
  • In this class we’ll take a look at some nutritional superstars of the plant kingdom and explore ways to boost the nutrient content of everyday foods. Sprouting, soaking, and fermentation will be discussed as ways to amp up the nutritional profile of certain foods. We’ll create a colorful meal of quinoa vegetable “sushi” with sprouts, a super greens salad with hemp-ginger dressing, and chia pudding with herbed citrus compote.

• Class 4: Foods to Fight Inflammation — 6-8 p.m. on Monday, March 27
  • In this class, we’ll explore the concept of inflammation in the body and how it can impact overall health. Learn what inflammation is, which foods more easily cause inflammation, and how to use food to decrease and/or prevent it. We’ll make a version of the recently popular warm beverage called “golden milk,” coconut-ginger braised leafy greens with chickpeas and steamed buckwheat, and a raw blueberry tart.

• Class 5: Spring Detox — 6-8 p.m. on Monday, April 3
  • Learn how to use whole foods to support the natural detoxification processes in your body. With a focus on spring greens and other seasonal produce, we’ll make a simple green smoothie, red beet hummus with cruciferous vegetables, green goddess salad, and creamy cauliflower soup.

About the instructor:

Holly holds a Master’s degree in the Science of Nutrition and certification as a Holistic Health Coach. She runs a small nutrition and wellness business, Holly Marban Wellness, where she combines her knowledge of nutrition with skills in counseling and coaching to support individuals in nourishing themselves and reaching their personal health and wellness goals. A strong believer in the healing abilities of food, she is most at home in the kitchen and enjoys sharing that space with others. Her philosophy is rooted in the belief that food can be medicinal, therapeutic, and immensely enjoyable all at once.

Registration details:

This series consists of five cooking classes from 6-8 p.m. every Monday from March 6 through April 3. The classes will be held at the Sitka Kitch, located in the First Presbyterian Church at 505 Sawmill Creek Road.

The cost of the full five-class series is $117.50 (discounted from $137.50), plus a fee for ingredients and supplies. If you would prefer not to register for the whole series, you can purchase one or more classes individually at $27.50, plus a fee for ingredients and supplies. Registration for individual classes will open two weeks before each class date if space allows.

Your spot is not secured until you pay. You can pay through our online registration site, http://sitkakitch.eventsmart.com, using your debit/credit card or a PayPal account. If you would like to pay via check or cash, please call Chandler or Clarice at the Sitka Conservation Society at 747-7509 to arrange a payment time. Registration for the full series closes at 3 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 24, and registration for individual classes at 3 p.m. on the Friday before each class. Each class requires a minimum of eight students.

If you need to cancel, please contact sitkakitch@sitkawild.org at least 72 hours prior to the start of the class to receive a partial refund.