The myriad cultural differences new immigrants face when they come to Canada is often most apparent on their first trip to the grocery store.
Different products, labels and food choices can often confound those who are unfamiliar with western cooking, leading them to more expensive prepared and processed meals.
But a new cooking class put together by the Tri-City Transitions Society aims to teach immigrants how to cook with local ingredients. In Food Skills for New Immigrant Families, participants will learn how to plan meals and cook tasty, healthy food on a limited budget.
"In some cases, you show them a pantry and they have no idea," said Arbe McKenzie, a program director with the society. "They don't recognize the labels and they certainly don't know how to prepare it."
The free sessions, which begin this fall, are broken down into six three-hour classes, ranging from basic food preparation to proper food safety, handling and storage. Students will be taken on a tour of a supermarket and learn about meats, milk alternatives and healthy fats.
Immigrants confused by the food choices at the supermarket, McKenzie said, often turn to processed alternatives, which are generally not as healthy as home-cooked meals.
While much of the class focuses on the basics of Canadian cooking, she said the students often bring their own cultural influences to the table and many of the techniques picked up over the course can be applied to ethnic recipes.
"They will look at different components," she said. "It is interesting because they draw upon each other's influences."
Those who participate will get a chance to eat the food they prepare and take home a few recipes to try out in their own kitchen.
The classes will be held at the women's resource centre (2420 Mary Hill Rd., PoCo) and will take place on Wednesdays between 6:30 and 9:30 p.m., Sept. 14 to Oct. 19. To register, call 604-941-6311. For more information, go to www.tricitytransitions.com.
