Celebrity Chef Tiffany Derry will make her way to the Demopolis Civic Center on Dec. 11 for a cooking demonstration and educational session designed to promote healthy cooking.
The event sponsored by Novo Nordisk and the Diabetes Education Program will serve as a chance to teach residents of the area the dangers of diabetes and staying healthy. Derry will show residents how to cook full-flavor but healthy meals. It is free to all who attend.
Derry, a Novo Nordisk Diabetes Educator, is best known from her appearances on Bravo TV’s “Top Chef” and has appeared regularly on Spike TV’s “Hungry Investigators” and “Bar Rescue.”
“It’s about promoting health,” said Dr. Ronnie Chu who has been over the effort to get Perry and this healthy living program to Demopolis.
The Chu Clinic is partnering with Novo Nordisk in efforts to continue the healthy living and eating program after the event.
To do that, Chu has reached out to other clinics in hopes that they will send their patients to the event and has reached out to every school system to send representatives to incorporate ideas from Derry’s cooking and health tips into lunch menus.
Healthy living menus and recipe books will be available to take home.
West Alabama has some of the highest obesity rates in the nation. The Marengo County obesity rate was 37 percent in 2009 according to an Associated Press report. Greene County led the area at 43.5 percent followed by Perry County, 40.2; Sumter County, 40; and Hale County at 38.6.
The current adult obesity rate in Alabama is 33.5 percent.
While the high school obesity rate in the state is hovering around 17 percent. The goal of the program is to have that number be lower and make sure all area residents are healthy.