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Lentils for a Healthy Living Workshop
On September 24, 2026, Sustainable Community Aid Network (SCAN) hosted its first workshop session for the Sustainability on My Mind – Seniors Edition program. Led by Mokshi Virk, a community leader, entrepreneur, mentor, and trained Seniors Teaching Seniors instructor under the program, the workshop focused on practical ways to prepare and enjoy different types of lentils while exploring their role in healthy, affordable, and sustainable eating.
This workshop was held at Grace Place, a community resource centre located in Brampton. During the session, seniors received a live lentil cooking demonstration by Mokshi, complimentary tasting experiences, recipe handouts, and a free ingredient kit, all while exploring the role of lentils in healthy, affordable, and sustainable eating, especially for seniors who are managing diabetes.
Presentation – Healthy and Sustainable Eating
Mokshi introduced how healthier living can be achieved through lifestyle changes using an insightful presentation. This presentation used vegetarian Indian food as an example, highlighting how cultural foods can be adjusted for a healthier lifestyle while preserving their roots.
Cooking Demonstration – Indian Style Yellow Lentils (Dal Tadka)
Fresh ingredients and various types of seasonings were prepared.
This session included a step-by-step demo for making Indian-Style Yellow Lentils (Dal Tadka), followed by sautéed chickpeas and red kidney beans.
Program Outcomes
The following outcomes were observed:
- Cultural Connections: Strengthened cultural knowledge of Indian vegetarian dishes.
- Community and Involvement: Fostered community and participant involvement through live demonstrations and discussion.
- Knowledge Sharing: Increased awareness of affordable and nutritious dishes.
- Sharing SCAN’s Mission: Extended SCAN’s reach towards seniors and its mission to promote sustainability, community, food affordability, and accessibility.
Conclusion
Through the Lentils for Healthy Living workshop, seniors became familiar with different types of lentils, learnt simple ways to prepare them, and understood how lentils can fit into a healthy eating pattern for people managing diabetes, which was achieved through the workshop’s interactive presentation, live demonstration, discussion, and handouts.
For our seniors, this workshop highlighted the importance of connecting culturally and with the community through small lifestyle changes, and of discovering new ways to approach a healthier life.
