Chef Mary Bass to host first WIC cooking class..

Galveston County Health District’s WIC to host new cooking series
July 17 class to focus on creating meals with WIC foods
GALVESTON COUNTY, Texas – Trying new fruits and vegetables can be daunting, especially when incorporating them into a fresh, healthy meal for the family.

That’s why Galveston County Health District (GCHD) is expanding its partnership with Galveston’s Own Farmers Market to take out the guesswork with a brand new cooking class, kicking off July 17.

The first class focuses on how to make meals with Women, Infants and Children (WIC) foods.

“WIC has partnered with Galveston’s Own Farmers Market for about five years and a lot of our WIC clients shop at the market,” said Tiffany Rice, GCHD WIC director. “Chef Mary Bass does cooking demonstrations at the market for the public and our WIC clients make up a large part of that group.”

The market cooking demonstrations have been such a hit that Casey McAuliffe, Galveston’s Own Farmers Market executive director, and Rice decided to partner and bring the class directly to WIC clients.
The July 17 class, set for noon-2 p.m. at the Texas City WIC classroom, will include a menu of fresh green salad with vegetables sourced from Galveston’s Own Farmers Market, savory lentil soup and easy, healthy pimento cheese.
Bass, executive chef at Katy’s Seafood House, opening in Galveston on Labor Day, will lead the class.
“Families are incredibly busy. There’s not a lot of time to think of ways to incorporate new food, much less cook it,” Rice said. “We want to give families ideas on how to keep meals healthy with easy recipes featuring new ingredients.”
The class is also a chance to introduce young children to produce and help them learn how to pick ripe fruits and vegetables.
“We want to show the children what good produce looks like and what it feels like when you’re picking it,” Rice said. “Produce is the freshest when the farmers pick the food. And, shopping at the market helps keep money right here in our community.”
The class is free to WIC participants. And, they get to enjoy the dishes they create. For a schedule of upcoming classes,  visit gchd.org/WIC.
The Texas WIC Classroom is located at 9850 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway Suite B 101.02, Texas City. Classes are limited to about 10-12 participants. To register, please call 409-949-3471.