Season four of What's Cooking with NYSOFA, from the New York State Office for the Aging, recently debuted live on YouTube and Facebook, promoting healthy eating for older adults.

June Wollett is an 85-year-old who's excited to be tuning in for the first time.

"Oh, I think it's very important. We need to just eat healthy. And for myself, I don't do too great a job sometimes," said June.

What You Need To Know

  • The state has the largest meal program in the country

  • The program was cooked up just prior to COVID

  • The show recently launched season four and hit a total of more than a million views since it debuted

Show host Wendy Beckman shares simple recipes and helps seniors like June increase their intake of fruits, vegetables and protein. 

"I was impressed with all the vegetables she put in there. Definitely, it needs to be easy. I found that to be very true. The older I get, the less I like to cook. Days, yes you can go out there and get busy and cook up something and it's fine, but other days, no," said June.

The show premiered in 2020 from Wendy's living room, and streamed on Facebook after the pandemic prevented the original plan of holding various in-person demonstrations, leaving people in isolation with no choice but to watch it.

It has since enlisted the help of the state's Office of General Services, which upped the production value for Wendy to create more than just a healthy meal.

"Empower older adults and to help them stay in their homes for as long as possible. And to lead long and healthy, productive lives. And nutrition is a really big part of that," said Wendy.

The state runs the largest nutrition program in the country, as leaders say the program has surpassed 1 million views.

"I'm not surprised at all that people love it. Because people love to cook. And this is a way to enhance your own nutrition through good cooking through the lens of our registered dietitian," said Greg Olsen, director, NYSOFA.

June enjoyed the show and recommends it to others.

"People need to more about what their foods are," said June

The next live show is Friday afternoon, Feb. 23 at 12:30 p.m.

The show and its recipes are also made possible thanks to a statewide partnership with SNAP-ED-New York.