In October 2022. we introduced our families to a new cook book. This cook book focuses on using native vegetable greens in the recipes. It also explains all the different native greens and their benefits to the body. This cookbook can help fight many nutrition problems from obesity, malnutrition, heart disease, diabetes to name a few.
This cook book was supplied to Aldea Maya by proyectoCAN. Andrea a dietitian from ProyectoCAN spent several days in the village giving classes and mentoring Miriam and Rosa on the second cookbook in the series. Miriam and Rosa are now teaching the adding greens to your diet course.
In talking to the moms, grandmoms and dads we have been pleased to find out that families are now changing the way they cook and eat.
They are using more vegetables and reducing sugar and salt intake. We even had our first dad take the class and he was having a wonderful time. We also coordinated with the health centre and gave classes to at risk nutritionally families.
We also teach classes to our middle, high school and university students. Here are some university students making chaya corn tortillas. Males do not traditionally make tortillas but in our classes they learn. Chaya tortillas are highly nutritious and almost supply all nutrients required in a day.
For 12 years we have been trying to get families to eat CHAYA. CHAYA is a highly nutritious leafy green that grows in a tree or shrub. It use to be part of the traditional diet before the conquistadores invaded. We found that our families would grow it but not consume it. In our cooking classes we have shown many recipes containing CHAYA. The women are now asking for more CHAYA recipes and incorporating it into their diet. As the plant already is growing in their yard, they are able to now feed their families cheaper meals that are highly nutritious.
The families then go home with a basket of food so they can remake the recipes at home.