Lawrence learned how to cook later in life. “I grew up watching cooking a lot,” he says with a laugh. “I grew up with four sisters. They did all the cooking.”
But today, he not only knows how to cook, he also enjoys it. “I don’t do well with desserts, but the meat and potatoes, I do well with.”
Lawrence attributes his culinary skills to the community cooking classes that he attends in The Kitchen at Second Harvest. The free, hands-on classes are designed to serve people facing hunger. Second Harvest’s nutrition educators provide personalized instruction, along with tips on how to build healthy eating habits and save money on nutritious foods.
“This class has helped me make more vegetarian-type things,” he shares while slicing fresh veggies for crunchy rainbow wraps. “I was surprised by the olack bean burger that we made here. You go to the grocery store and see the black bean burger, ana it’s six bucks. You can buy a can of beans for a buck-and-a-half. And you can actually have a few more of ’em.”
Learning how to cook delicious, affordable meals has been good for his wallet and his health.
“I find that I’m getting a healthier meal and plenty to eat,” Lawrence says. “I’ve actually lost about 12 pounds over the last year.”
