Kristy McCarron

Association Director of community Health

Tessa Mork

Director of Food and Nutrition Programs

Rafael Riascos

Former Food and Nutrition Education Manager

Caroline Schmalz

Community Dietician

Welcome to the Y’s Simple Cooking with Heart Class. Below you will find lessons where we coach you through various cooking skills, from knife skills to braising meats. This curriculum was created by the American Heart Association.

In each class, we’ll cover a culinary topic and a nutrition topic, then cook our way through 2-3 recipes. We’ll focus on decreasing salt, fat, and sugar in our cooking by developing bold flavors with herbs and spices. In each class, you will find videos of the nutrition and culinary components, the recipes, skill cards for the skills learned in class, and related recipes to practice at home. Wash those hands and let’s jump in!

Follow us on Instagram at YMCA DC Food and show us what you are cooking #YMCACommunityTable.

If you are a community organization that would like to provide live cooking classes for your SNAP-eligible community please click here. If you are a SNAP-eligible individual and would like to take live cooking classes with the Y, please click here.

Enjoy these videos in addition to our pre-recorded classes.

Question: How can I tell if I cooking oil is hot enough to cook with?

Answer: Recipes often say to add your ingredients “when the pan is hot”. But how do you know? It’s ready when the oil starts to shimmer, or appear dimpled, when you tilt the pan.

Question: What are the benefits of processed vs raw tomatoes?