Group Education Model and Healthy Cooking Classes for Chronic Disease Management

There are currently 49 Community Health Centres (CHCs) and satellite locations in Ontario, with 33 locations in the Greater Toronto Area. This project aims to determine the best content and format for a consistent delivery model and practical tools to equip CHC employees, including dietitians and health promoters, in the delivery of cooking and healthy lifestyle community education. The goal of this research is to provide an evidence-based group model for client education, by assessing and exploring the capacity of CHCs and their clients, including existing resources and gaps for experienced by CHCs and their clients. This is with a goal of securing further funding to standardize a program and disseminate across Ontario CHCs. The current “Healthy Cooking on a Budget” Workshops run by Central Toronto CHC (CTCHC) Diabetes Team and Sharon Booy began in 2011. This series runs seasonally, with the purpose of building capacity, knowledge, and skills for healthy lifestyle behaviours, including the “why,” and “how” of healthy eating to improve prevention and management of chronic disease like TypeJ2 Diabetes. A comprehensive program such as this is somewhat unique to the CHC integrated model of care, where medical services and health promotion programming are provided in one place. The project will provide an opportunity for current students in the Culinary Nutrition Management program at George Brown College to engage in research, community programs as well as the current program at CTCHC. We also aim to include an assignment in the current H119 program to engage students in developing recipes for this project.