CARBONDALE, Ill. – More than half of Illinois adults have a known chronic health condition, with many facing inequities that make improving their health more challenging. Extension and community partners are meeting community members where they are through the Healthier Choices Made Easy mobile teaching kitchen.

The project came about when Southern Illinois Healthcare (SIH) conducted its community health needs assessment and identified priority areas, including chronic disease management and treatment. To address this need, Illinois Extension partnered with SIH, the Region 5 Regional Hospital Coordination Center, and local health departments to bring a full-service, portable teaching kitchen to our communities to support nutrition education efforts.

The kitchen visits SNAP-eligible sites like food pantries, schools, and farmer's markets in the lower 16 counties of Illinois. The fully stocked cart includes a stovetop burner, toaster oven, blender, grill, handwashing sink, prep sink, and a refrigerated cooler.

SNAP-Ed Educator Toni Kay Wright said the mobile teaching kitchen allows staff to showcase an expanded selection of healthy recipes and ensure food safety requirements are met.

"When our staff visit food pantries or other sites, sometimes the lack of electricity, refrigeration, or access to running water limit the types of recipes they could do on-site," said Wright. "The fully-stocked kitchen cart allows staff to showcase cooking skills and Eat.Move.Save. recipe demonstrations that are affordable and healthy as they offer samples for community members to taste."

To take a virtual tour of the mobile teaching kitchen, visit go.illinois.edu/MobileKitchen.

SOURCE: Toni Kay Wright, SNAP-Ed educator, tkwright@illinois.edu, (618) 993-3304

WRITER: Heather Willis, marketing and communications coordinator, hdwillis@illinois.edu, (618) 357-2126