WATCH: 6abc’s Art of Aging features Plant-Based Cooking Class That Helps Older Adults Eat Healthier
PCA was featured on 6abc’s Art of Aging, spotlighting a weekly cooking class at Lutheran Settlement House in Fishtown that helps older adults eat healthier through simple, plant-based recipes. Held every Monday, the class is taught by Lynn McCullough, a nutrition educator with the Netter Center for Community Partnerships at the University of Pennsylvania, as part of a community partnership with Lutheran Settlement House.
The program blends hands-on cooking with practical nutrition education, focusing on everyday ways to reduce salt and sugar and add more fruits and vegetables. Connie Lewis-Watson, PCA’s Community Engagement Program Manager, shared that the class is designed to support better health—reinforcing that good nutrition can help seniors remain healthier, live longer, and stay independent.
Participants learn to prepare meat-free meals—like Lemony Pasta with Peas and White Beans—using accessible ingredients such as whole-wheat pasta, lemons, garlic, onions, parmesan cheese, and frozen peas, while working together to chop, cook, and taste. McCullough also shares weekly recipes so members can recreate the dishes at home, helping take the mystery out of cooking—especially for seniors who receive pantry items and aren’t always sure how to use them—reflecting PCA’s mission to help older Philadelphians live independently with a good quality of life.
