A new local non-profit organization has had to find new ways to operate amidst COVID-19.
Uncomplicated Kitchen is a local non-profit organization with the goal to improve food security through educational outreach. The organization was only operating for a few months before they had to change the way they operated due to COVID-19.
Jenna Kranz made the decision to end her granola business to create Uncomplicated Kitchen, which launched Nov. 26, 2019. Kranz held cooking classes to achieve Uncomplicated Kitchen’s goal to improve food security through educational outreach.
“I wanted to bridge the gap between access [to food] and knowledge,” said Kranz.
Kranz prepares healthy meals with the help of Uncomplicated Kitchen’s board member Nilofer Couture. Couture is a nutritionist that provides Kranz with nutrition resources and answers any nutrition questions students may have.
“The public is bombarded with a lot of nutrition misinformation whether it’s online or in the media and having a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator provide sound nutrition advice is definitely an asset,” said Couture.
COVID-19 affected the way businesses could operate. At the time Uncomplicated Kitchen was temporarily located in the Jackson County Cooperative Extension where she taught students how to cook and meal prep healthy meals. At the end of every cooking session, students would take home food from the meal that was cooked.
As a result of COVID-19, Kranz had to completely change the way Uncomplicated Kitchen operated. Her solution? Zoom.
“We were teaching classes and the pandemic hit and I was like, oh my gosh, we just kind of started this organization and now I don’t know what we’re going to do. And like everybody else, I went to Zoom,” said Kranz.
Currently, students are attending cooking classes on Zoom. After signing up online, students are sent emails of upcoming classes and the list of ingredients needed.
“[Jenna Kranz] makes cooking look easy and I certainly want to learn whatever I can from her,” said Erika Eill, who has attended classes with Uncomplicated Kitchen.
Uncomplicated Kitchen’s first virtual cooking class was near the start of summer 2020 with The Village Green organization in Cashiers. Kranz recalled being “so nervous” due to the unfamiliarity of virtual classes.
“I’ve never taken an online class. I’ve never taught cooking in an online class [before],” said Kranz.
When COVID-19 is over, Kranz’s goal is to have a physical location for Uncomplicated Kitchen. A physical space will allow them to begin giving away pantry food, offering spaces to cook as well as resuming in-person cooking classes whenever possible.
Recently, Uncomplicated Kitchen purchased a trailer after being awarded a $5,000 grant from the Great Smoky Health Foundation. The trailer will be transformed into a mobile classroom to teach in-person classes. The trailer is currently being renovated but will be located at Cullowhee Methodist Church’s parking lot by the end of March 2021 where she will hold in-person classes.
