Menu Makeover Training Inspires Volunteers at Community Meal Site

A recent “Menu Makeover” training led by Lancaster General Health staff members gave one man a great idea that led to a delicious and nutritious dinner for more than 100 hungry Lancastrians.

Greg Henning already knew how to cook – he is the culinary facilitator for the Lancaster County Career & Technology Center. But he took the December 8 training as a volunteer at the East Chestnut Street Mennonite Church on Chestnut Street in Lancaster City where he coordinates and occasionally prepares the free community meal served to more than 100 people every Monday at 5:30 p.m.

The class was held at Kegel’s Produce Playground and organized by the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank for its partner agencies – organizations that serve meals to people in need. The goal of the training was to help these organizations create delicious, healthy meals on a budget.

Lancaster General Health, the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, and Kegel’s Produce are partners in the Lighten Up Lancaster County coalition, a group of organizations and individuals dedicated to increasing the number of people in Lancaster at a healthy weight by promoting healthy eating and physical activity.

Henning was curious about ways he could make his church’s meals more nutritious while keeping the costs down. And he thought the beef stew was so good that he wanted to get the Lancaster County CTC Culinary Arts students involved. So he asked them to help him prepare the stew for his church’s holiday community meal on Monday, Dec. 26. The meal got rave reviews and was a great learning experience for Henning’s students, too.