Lesson 5: Cooking with Traditional Ingredients
- Introduction: Cooking with traditional ingredients is not only a way to reconnect with cultural roots but also a practical approach to managing diabetes. These ingredients are often nutrient-dense and support a balanced, healthy diet.
- Deep Dive:
- Traditional Ingredients for Diabetes Management: Explore the nutritional benefits of traditional ingredients such as bison, salmon, wild rice, and berries. Discuss how these ingredients can be used to create diabetes-friendly meals.
- Cooking Techniques: Review traditional cooking techniques that preserve the nutritional value of ingredients, such as smoking, drying, roasting, and boiling.
- Meal Preparation: Discuss how to plan and prepare meals that incorporate traditional ingredients while meeting dietary needs for diabetes management.
- Activity: Participate in a cooking demonstration or prepare a dish using traditional foods. Reflect on the experience and discuss how these ingredients can be integrated into daily meal planning for diabetes management.
- Discussion Questions:
- How can cooking with traditional ingredients contribute to better diabetes management?
- What are some traditional cooking techniques that preserve the nutritional value of ingredients?
- How can healthcare providers encourage patients to incorporate traditional ingredients into their diets?
- What are the challenges of sourcing traditional ingredients, and how can these be addressed?
- How can community cooking programs help promote the use of traditional ingredients in diabetes-friendly meals?