Behind the pots and pans of the Healthy Cooking workshops is Andrée Vandal, who has been volunteering at Hope & Cope for two years. She doesn’t describe herself as a chef, but as someone who deeply loves cooking and what it allows people to create together.
“I don’t claim to be a professional or a cook, I just have a passion for it,” she says.
Before leading cooking workshops for Hope is Life, Andrée had a career in communications. Nothing to do with food service, she smiles. She learned to cook from her family.
“In our family, we’re really foodies,” she says. “Our mother passed on her love of food to us. And I think it’s a great way to touch someone’s heart.”
For Andrée, cooking is above all a form of communication. This naturally led her to volunteer in various settings, often related to meal preparation.
When she first became involved with Hope is Life, it was through Marianne Pham, who led these workshops for some 20 years before retiring and becoming an ambassador for the program. Then Andrée took over.
Cooking to reach people affected by cancer
Andrée’s motivation goes beyond sharing recipes. She wants to reach people who are going through a difficult time.
“I want to touch them and make sure they get something out of this workshop,” she says.
She notes that many participants arrive with a very pressing concern: eating better. Whether they are newly diagnosed or nearing the end of their journey, they want to pay attention to their diet, take care of themselves, and sometimes their families as well. Offering a workshop where they can discover simple, accessible, and healthy recipes is therefore very timely.
“It’s not a cooking class, there’s no diploma,” she explains. “It’s simply about discovering easy, inexpensive recipes.”
Simple, economical, and tasty recipes
Most of the recipes Andrée presents are vegetarian, by choice.
“It’s intentional. It’s inexpensive and can be very tasty,” she acknowledges.
She also likes to draw inspiration from world cuisine, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of the participants. The idea is to offer nutritious, colorful, and affordable dishes.
The participants’ reactions confirm her approach. “I didn’t know you could make such a tasty dish with plain lentils,” she often hears.
Andrée also suggests ways to shop more efficiently and reduce costs by using food wisely and planning for several meals.
Freezing is one of her tips. Preparing a dish for four when you live alone, then freezing portions, can make a big difference on tougher days.
Some people arrive having hardly ever cooked at home, while others are young adults discovering that they can do it. There’s something for everyone.
A workshop, not just a class
In practice, each session follows a simple structure. When participants arrive, Andrée welcomes them. She has prepared the recipe for the day, printed out for everyone.
“I don’t want them to take notes, we’re not going to waste time on that,” she explains.
She demonstrates the recipe while the participants watch, ask questions, and learn a few techniques for greater efficiency along the way. Then comes the long-awaited moment: tasting. Everyone sits around the table to sample the dish.
This is where another essential dimension of the workshop comes into play: discussion.
“Often, it starts with food, but it ends up going much further into their interests and concerns,” says Andrée.
Discussions open up about daily life, treatments, and emotions. People who have just been diagnosed rub shoulders with participants who are finishing their journey or are cancer-free. Everyone brings their own experiences, questions, and tips to the table.
Over the course of the sessions, bonds are formed. Andrée talks about a group that becomes “quite close-knit quite quickly.” In a lighthearted, pressure-free setting, genuine support develops almost naturally.
Soup, the big winner
If Andrée had to choose one dish that symbolizes the workshops, it would be soup.
“Soup is the big winner for everyone,” she says.
She prepares it regularly, alternating with other dishes. Preferences vary from person to person, and the groups change: some participants return to work, others complete their treatments, and new ones arrive. But soup remains a common thread, simple, nourishing, and adaptable.
Why participate in a cooking workshop for people with cancer?
Andrée sums up the benefits of participating in a cooking workshop simply: “You have the opportunity to learn how to prepare certain meals more easily, discover new things, and meet other participants,” she says.
She emphasizes the simplicity of the recipes, which are adapted for people who don’t always have the energy or time to cook for long periods.
What participants discover over the course of the sessions is that you can cook tasty meals without spending a lot of money or spending hours in the kitchen. And above all, that sharing a meal provides an opportunity to talk, listen, and support one another.
Time to feast!
Vous vivez avec le cancer ou vous accompagnez un proche et vous aimeriez apprivoiser la cuisine de façon simple et chaleureuse ? Participez aux ateliers « Cuisinons sainement » offerts par L’espoir, c’est la vie. Venez pour les recettes… et repartez avec bien plus qu’un plat à emporter. Appelez-nous au 514-340-3616.
