IN-PERSON WORKSHOP: Reaching and Empowering Patients Through Efficient, Cost-Effective, and High-Impact Culinary Classes

HANDS-ON TEACHING KITCHEN SESSION

Workshop Description: Most patients want to eat well yet face real and persistent barriers that make lasting changes difficult. Common challenges include limited cooking skills, concerns about the cost of healthier foods, and uncertainty around how to prepare plant-based ingredients that may be unfamiliar with their usual dietary patterns. Without practical guidance, even the most motivated patients can feel overwhelmed or unsure where to begin. This session provides a practical, adaptable framework for integrating culinary education into clinical and community-based settings. Participants will learn how to teach foundational cooking skills in ways that are efficient, cost-conscious, and engaging, while emphasizing simple, flavorful recipes that patients can confidently recreate at home.

Through the preparation of a few favorite whole food, plant-based recipes, attendees will experience firsthand how approachable and satisfying this style of eating can be. In addition to building culinary confidence, the session will encourage participants to reflect on the resources, settings, and opportunities available within their own practices to better reach and support their patients. The goal of this session is to equip healthcare professionals with the tools and inspiration needed to empower patients - helping them feel capable, confident, and motivated to incorporate whole food, plant-based meals into their daily lives in a sustainable way.