Food for Life Diabetes Nutrition and Cooking Classes

The Food for Life Diabetes Nutrition and Cooking Class is a community-based, national program designed by health professionals to aid people with diabetes to learn about the power of food to improve their health and wellness. Upcoming classes >>

Launched in 2009, the Food for Life Diabetes Nutrition and Cooking Class is designed to bring a new, research-based, easy-to-follow approach to help people with diabetes in two significant ways:

• Avoid preventable complications from the disease
• Reduce the need for medication(s)

Designed by physicians, diabetes educators, registered dietitians, and professional chefs, the goals of this program are to empower people with diabetes with information on how food choices promote, prevent, and treat type 2 diabetes and practical cooking skills for healthy and delicious meal preparation. Instructors include registered dietitians, diabetes educators, nutritionists, chefs, health community workers, and trained peer leaders with an interest in diabetes and a passion for plant-based nutrition. Our instructors have completed an extensive training program offered through PCRM, and participate in ongoing, interactive educational sessions.

People who have type 2 diabetes, or concerns about developing diabetes, and their friends and family members will all benefit from the class.

Background on the Nutritional Approach
Population studies and clinical research show the effectiveness of a low-fat, plant-based diet in:

• Improving blood glucose
• Promoting weight loss
• Reducing cholesterol
• Lowering the risk of common chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and various cancers

A well-planned plant-based diet has many nutritional benefits and has been demonstrated to be as acceptable as the portion-controlled diet for diabetes management. A plant-based diet has also been endorsed by the American Dietetic Association and described as a safe choice in the 2009 American Diabetes Association's Standards of Care for Diabetes.

What You Can Expect from the Food for Life Diabetes Cooking Class
Each two-hour interactive class includes:

• Nutrition education on the role of plant-based meal planning
• A presentation of moving interviews with people who share their inspirational experiences of how they reversed their diabetes following the same nutrition lessons taught in the class
• A cooking demonstration of simple, tasty recipes that can be easily recreated at home
• Delicious food samples of the recipes prepared in class

Participants will leave the class equipped with recipes, a summary on how to get started with a planted-based nutrition approach, and information on additional resources.

Note: Participants are strongly encouraged to work with their health care team to safely make changes in diet.

Food for Life Diabetes Nutrition and Cooking Class Locations

District of Columbia Florida Hollywood, Fla. Holmes Beach, Fla.   Sarasota, Fla. Georgia Decatur, Ga.  Illinois Northbrook, Ill. Louisiana Lafayette, La.  Maryland Hyattsville, Md. Potomac, Md. Temple Hills, Md. Massachusetts Dennis, Mass. Westborough, Mass. Michigan Farmington Hills, Mich. South Haven, Mich. Walled Lake, Mich.

New Jersey Lambertville, N.J. New York Stonybrook, N.Y. North Carolina Carrboro, N.C. Ohio Sagmore Hills, Ohio Oregon Beaverton, Ore. Portland, Ore. Pennsylvania Pittsburgh, Penna. Texas Austin, Texas North Richland Hills, Texas Washington Bellevue, Wash.

For information about hosting a class, please send an e-mail to diabetesFFL@pcrm.org. Provide the name of your organization, number of people expected (30 is the preferred group size), and your contact information. Preference is given, but not limited to, diabetes support groups and other programs that are offered by recognized providers of diabetes education (DSMT/E) through the ADA or AADE.

The blenders used in many of our Food for Life classes were generously donated by the Vita-Mix Corporation.

The cookware and induction burners used in these classes were generously donated by Saladmaster.