Making Healthy Changes Stick: VA Bedford’s Cooking Class Empowers Vets Through Nutrition Education

Her Healthy Teaching Kitchen cooking class provides hands-on nutrition education that equips Vets with practical tools for nourishment and self-care.

“The focus of the class is on integrating nutrition concepts into real life application (food/meal preparation) to help maintain lifelong, permanent, healthy lifestyle changes,” said Bukovich. “Class is designed to increase the Veteran's self-efficacy and confidence in food preparation and management of one's own health, and encourage healthier, more natural, and less processed food choices.”

Air Force Veteran Dick Duffey has attended Bukovich’s impactful class. “The combination of the Move! program for weight loss, and the Healthy Teaching Kitchen for cooking skills and food knowledge really helped me improve my diet and habits long-term," Duffey remarked.

He said the hands-on cooking sessions taught critical kitchen skills. "One big thing we learned was how to cut vegetables and meat properly and safely, like how to hold and cut a tomato or bagel. That was so valuable," Duffey stated.

Duffey highlighted Bukovich's commitment to the veterans. "Emily reached out and went the extra mile for us, even during the pandemic when things were difficult. I knew she was trying her best through video classes when internet access was spotty. She never dropped the ball and was so caring, understanding, and helpful in working to make the classes happen," he said.

The nutrition education empowered Duffey to make lasting changes. “I’m right now probably about 20 pounds less than I was anyway. The Move! Program was the first step in improving my diet, and then the Healthy Teaching Kitchen was the next part," Duffey explained.

VA Bedford strives to provide Veterans with resources to take charge of their wellbeing after their military service ends. Bukovich’s engaging cooking sessions help Vets build lifelong healthy eating habits through practical education.