As mentioned above, the Mad Dog cooking series consists of 6 once-weekly cooking classes and educational sessions where a group of individuals with neuromuscular disability can come together to learn about the health benefits of an anti-inflammatory diet, receive instruction on how to cook selected anti-inflammatory recipes, and experiment with various pieces of accessible kitchen equipment that may increase their meal preparation skills. These classes will take place in the kitchen in the Brock Research and Innovation Centre (130 Lockhart Drive) which is a completely accessible building. The classes will be led by a Brock University graduate student and take approximately 90 minutes each, and each class will have a different theme (See below). This series will also allow participants to share a meal together once per week which the investigators expect (based on past feedback) to foster a sense of community and belonging, improve mood and increase the likelihood of long term adherence to the anti-inflammatory diet.
Schedule:
Week 1: Introduction to Anti-Inflammatory Eating (Veggies and Pita with Mad Dog Hummus, Mad Dog Thai Curry, Mad Dog Nut Mix) Week 2: Focus on Breakfast (Chocolate Protein Smoothie, Poached Eggs Potato Hash and Wilted Kale, Overnight Oats) Week 3: Healthy Flavors of the Globe (Baked Plantain and Sweet Potato Chips, Lentil Tacos with rice and beans, Sugarless Sticky Toffee Pudding) Week 4: Tribute to Canada (Split Pea Soup, Chicken Tourtière with roasted veggies, Nanaimo Bars) Week 5: Anti-Inflammatory Powerhouses (Green Juice, Chicken Breast with Kale and Wild Rice Salad, Turmeric Coconut Bites) Week 6: Protein Positive (White Bean Dip with veggies and crackers, Vegetarian Chili, Sweet Potato Protein Pudding)