When Teresa Collins was an Air Force jet engine mechanic, she worked 12-hour days. Her busy schedule often forced her to order takeout or go to the drive thru. When she retired, she found herself with more free time and began exploring new ways to cook for herself with VA’s Healthy Teaching Kitchen program.
Healthy Teaching Kitchen helps Veterans get healthier food onto their plates. It provides classes and educational materials to build confidence in cooking at home with healthy, minimally processed foods.
“Healthy Teaching Kitchen has been such a blessing to me. I couldn’t tell you how much time and money I have saved,” Collins said.
Making eating a healthy habit
Collins heard about the Healthy Teaching Kitchen program from her registered dietitian, Kandace Bletzacker. When Collins shared her past eating habits and her family history of diabetes, Bletzacker recommended the program so Collins could learn how to cook tasty, healthy meals for herself.
Veterans can attend Healthy Teaching Kitchen classes either in person or online. Classes range from demonstration-style seminars to cook-alongs. In addition to cooking skills, instructors teach Veterans about nutrients, meal planning and grocery shopping. Many Healthy Teaching Kitchen classes also include options for specific health concerns, such as low-carb cooking for diabetes and anti-inflammatory cooking.
In January, Collins started taking a class on cooking with cost-friendly ingredients. She attended from home using her personal computer.
“They teach us how to store stuff, how to grocery shop. They even give us booklets with additional recipes,” she said.
Collins said she has learned “so many great recipes” and now has the confidence and cooking skills to “whip something up from [her] pantry.” She said she has already seen the positive impacts of a balanced diet.
More information
If you’re interested in taking classes, ask your provider if your VA facility has a Healthy Teaching Kitchen program. Classes are open to Veterans and partners, family members and caregivers. Visit the Healthy Teaching Kitchen program page to read more about how you can get started today.
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This is a superior service offered by the VA. I will contact them on Monday to find out how and when to enroll.
I ? honestly try to eat well fruits and vegetables and I still don’t feel well???
Wow these are great suggestions, VA , super helpful to me as I have to take care of my wife who is bed bound with Parkinson’s. You for a GREAT JOB helping all veterans. The Veterans services offered in Honolulu are really outstanding. Your organization makes a big difference in my life
We had healthy cooking classes. I enjoyed them very much. Until they were cut. Our teacher was the best!
Im trying to get rid of my belly area and flabby arms eating healthy as much as possible but sometime its hard if I can get some educated choices.
That’s all fine and dandy. I have to say this about my experience at the National Veterans Golden Age Games which has nothing to do with the Healthy Teaching Kitchen. I attended the Games in Memphis Tennessee this year In June 2025. The food they served was substandard. It was next to nothing is what I’m gonna say but could say worse. We were given a Voucher for each day for 1 meal per day which consisted of of a Sandwich a bag of chips and a soda or water. I found out at the end they had salads also whoop the doo. If we are trying to eat right this was not a good example for us to follow. I just hope the Games in Tampa Florida offer or serve better choices for the health conscious persons. (Catered food would at least would have been better or go back to giving a Visa Card so that we can get our own food for 3 meals per day. I left Memphis 5 pounds lighter. I didn’t go to lose weight. Please pass this on to whoever it needs to get to. Thank you.