Anyone knows, life as a parent of a toddler isn’t always easy.
And making sure that life is healthy, well that can be a bit tougher.
But on Fridays for the next seven weeks, Kelly Proctor, of the Piñon Project, will teach parents just how easy being a healthy parent can be.
Last Friday, a small group of parents kept an eye on their toddlers and an eye on Proctor as she demonstrated.
“We are going to cook a stromboli. It’s a wonderful dish. Easy for Mom and great for kids,” Proctor said.
The class is sponsored by Montezuma County and is called “Eating Smart and Being Active.” It’s a cooking and exercise class on Fridays for anyone with children up to 5 years old. The class teaches basic nutrition and how to cook on a budget. It also teaches parents how to be active with their children.
Oralee Harris said she was excited to join the class because she wanted to learn new ways to cook.
Hannah Robertson jumped at the chance to take the class.
“I just wanted to get out of the house,” she said.
Proctor said she teaches the class to share her passion for nutrition.
“I love to talk about nutrition,” she said. “I’ve heard people say it’s too expensive to eat healthy. But I’m here to say it’s not.”
The grant-funded class will run through September and part of October, and people are still allowed to join.
“It’s a really fun class,” Proctor said.
On the cooking-lesson agenda for the following weeks are quesadillas, ratatouille, chicken sloppy Joes, mini pizza, macaroni and cheese cupcakes and skillet lasagna.
But first, Proctor taught the class last Friday how to cook a stromboli.
“You are only limited by your imagination with this recipe,” Proctor said.
She told class members that they can substitute the vegetables called for in the recipe for what they have on hand and also substitute the ham for any other lunch meat they might have in the house, or any left-over meat.
“You can also put spinach in it. If you cut it small enough, they will never know,” Proctor told the parents.
Another trick to getting your kids eat healthy — let them help.
“I find if my son helps make it. He is more willing to try it,” she said.
The trick to make this stromboli easy it to get whole wheat refrigerated pizza dough.
“I love making things from scratch, but who has time?” she said.
In addition, Proctor discussed how easy it is to walk in Cortez.
“The Hawkins Preserve is fabulous. It’s my happy place,” she said.
She handed out waling maps of the town, water bottles and exercise bands.
