Phila. Free Library Holds Healthy Cooking Classes With Focus on Military Vets

By Hadas Kuznits

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A new, free cooking class is helping US military veterans and others embrace healthy eating.

This morning the Free Library of Philadelphia, on Logan Circle, hosted its second monthly session of "Chow Down with Veterans" in its fourth-floor culinary literacy center kitchen.

"This program focuses on eating a plant-based diet, and so what we are trying to teach them is how to cook delicious, nutritious, easy meals," says culinary literacy specialist Liz Fitzgerald.

Felicia Zimmer, a clinical nurse specialist at the Veterans Administration in Philadelphia, says that for seven years she's been looking for a kitchen to host her group and she's so glad they've been able to get this program off the ground.

"(Veterans are) always interested in improving their own health status because a lot of them do have chronic medical conditions, so they're interested in learning how to prepare healthy foods and eating and always losing weight," she tells KYW Newsradio.

While mostly veterans attend, it's open to all.  And it takes place the second Wednesday of each month at 11AM, at the main branch of the Free Library, 19th and Vine Streets.

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