Do you remember your parents saying you have to drink your milk for strong bones? Or have you seen your physician and they are worried you might have osteopenia or osteoporosis?  In recognition of Osteoporosis Awareness Month the Hartford HealthCare Bone & Joint Institute will be offering a cooking class to promote a bone healthy diet on May 20.   Hosted by Christopher Barrett, RD, CSCS and a  local chef, the class will be held in the state-of-the-art demonstration kitchen located in the Bone Joint Institute’s Center for Musculoskeletal Health and will teach participants how to make delicious meals that can help strengthen bones.  All of the recipes will be prepared by an experienced chef and will be loaded with vitamins and minerals to help reduce the effects of osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a medical condition which the bones become fragile. Due to osteoporosis, 1 in 2 women and 1 in 4 men over 50 years old will break a bone.  To help prevent the effects of osteoporosis it’s important to adhere to a bone friendly diet filled with nutrient rich foods that will help bones stay strong and healthy.

Vitamin D, calcium and Vitamin K are nutrients which can be consumed that can assist with strengthening your bones,” explained Barrett, who is a Clinical Dietician at the Bone & Joint Institute.   “These come from more foods than just dairy products and in this class we will be incorporating them into familiar favorites.”

The tasty and enjoyable recipes that will be prepared will include: oven baked “fried” chicken with southern collard greens, yogurt bark with fresh fruit and granola, fluffy omelets and grilled salmon in collard green wraps.

The class is one day only on Monday, May 20th and includes meal options for breakfast, lunch, dinner as well as snacks and desserts. Participants can sign up for either the morning or afternoon session for$40 per person, which includes series fee and supplies.

For more information about the class or to register, please click here or call 1.855.442.4373.