LEWISTON – The Nutrition Center of Maine is offering several programs on cooking and nutrition at the center located at 208 Bates St.

“Heart Healthy Eating”: Healthy eating is one step people can take toward improving heart health. Learn the difference between heart-healthy fats and cholesterol-raising fats. Watch a food preparation demonstration and sample some heart-healthy recipes.

Heidi Joslyn, a clinical dietitian from St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, will teach the class from noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26. Cost is $10. To register, call the Nutrition Center of Maine at 753-5466.

“Easy Food Preservation”: Denise Dill, food and nutrition coordinator for Lots to Gardens, will show participants how easy and economical canning, freezing and preserving can be. The hands-on class will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, Sept. 27 and Oct. 4. Cost is $22. Call Lewiston Adult Education to register at 795-4141.

“Psychology of Eating”: Registered dietitian and veteran cook Jean Rocap, RD, LD, CDE, will hold an explorative workshop on why people eat the foods they do. Participate in eating simply prepared foods while unwinding from the day’s responsibilities. Explore ideas on why and how people eat.

Learn to orchestrate a culture of eating well from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10. Call Lewiston Adult Education to register at 753-5466. The class is limited to 25 people. Cost is $25.

“Eating Organic on the Cheap”: What do all of the different labels and terms really mean? What’s more important, buying organic or buying local? Get consumer information about organic products and learn helpful tips and strategies to make healthy choices more economical and easier to prepare from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, Oct. 25 and Nov. 1. Dill will be the instructor. Cost is $22. Call Lewiston Adult Education at 795-4141 to register.

“Lots to Gardens Cooking Groups”: Lots to Gardens hosts regular teen and adult cooking groups in the Nutrition Center kitchen. Cooking groups include hands-on preparation of healthy meals and snacks, a discussion of a nutrition-related theme as well as basic self-sufficiency lessons such as eating well on a budget.

All Lots to Gardens cooking classes and groups emphasize the use of fruits and vegetables and include fresh produce from the gardens when it is in season. Lots to Gardens also offers a Kids Cooking Club, which meets Monday afternoons at the Lewiston Public Library. For more information on the cooking groups, call 755-3110.