A VA program created 20 years ago to help veterans build and support healthy eating habits has remained relatively unknown, but it has a presence in more than 100 VA facilities.

And it can help you cook a mean four-bean salad.

Established in 2004, the Veterans Health Administration’s Healthy Teaching Kitchen (HTK) program includes group classes and online resources. The VA directed all medical facilities to establish an HTK in 2019; today, 124 facilities have active HTK group classes, including nutrition education, grocery shopping, reading labels, meal planning, following a recipe, using kitchen tools, cooking for specific health conditions, and much more to help support healthy eating habits.

Facilities also offer online resources via VA’s online Video Connect platform to patients and staff. An online recipe library includes downloadable cookbooks, and a YouTube recipe playlist offers more than 100 videos, covering everything from smoothies to main dishes to desserts:

While virtual classes are the most popular, both in-person and online classes use a cook-along demonstration-style format to facilitate learning. Veterans can bring one person with them to each class, and some offerings allow attendees not only to discuss cooking and nutrition, but to practice making the recipe and then taste the completed dish. The program looks to help veterans build confidence and apply their skills at home or in a social setting with others.

The VA created the program to help address some of the common challenges for eating healthy, such as:

• Lack of cooking skills or cooking routine
• Reliance on frozen and convenience foods
• Physical or mental health barriers to food preparation
• Lack of access or transportation to get groceries
• Reliance on food prepared by someone else in the household
• Different food preferences in a household

Feedback from veterans taking the class has been positive: “The format was comfortable and inviting and safe,” one veteran said. “I didn’t realize that I was treading water and even a little depressed and withdrawn. The cooking class drew me out. I feel better and encouraged.”

Another veteran said learning new food types “and simple ways to cook for these problems have given me a better outlook on how I can help myself. The instructor’s mannerisms were not just encouraging but fun, giving us confidence to try new foods that are healthy, that we can fix and serve our families and self.”

Veterans are encouraged to contact their health care team to connect with the nutrition and food services to learn more about the HTK program at their local VA medical facility.