The Food as Medicine program was developed to transform the way children with chronic conditions experience care, placing nutrition at the center of healing and empowering families with the tools and resources they need to thrive. Funded by the Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation, the program is a collaborative effort between the clinical teams at Norton Children’s and Norton Healthcare, and Norton Healthcare Belonging & Health Equity. As a support partner to clinical care teams, Norton Healthcare Belonging & Health Equity focuses on eliminating health disparities and improving access to essential resources for families. The Food as Medicine program aims to teach families how to use healthy food as part of a holistic care plan for managing health conditions such as diabetes while living a healthier, better life.
Nutrition Kitchen Class Series
The Nutrition Kitchen Class Series is a key element of the Food as Medicine program. Classes offer participants a fun, educational and interactive way to learn how to use the power of fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables to help manage diabetes. Modifications based on allergies, preferences and dietary restrictions are provided.
Each class is 60 to 90 minutes and focuses on:
- Preparing diabetes-friendly meals using fresh produce
- Safe food storage and preparation techniques to sustain freshness and flavor
- Education on the health benefits of fruits and vegetables in a balanced diet
Class highlights:
- Engaging conversation and live cooking demonstrations
- Hands-on participation in creating meals
- A finished dish available for tasting
- Take-home recipe cards with ingredient lists so families can easily make the meal at home
- Each class theme varies and some are specific to different stages of life that bring different dietary challenges
Diabetes Nutrition Kitchen Class Series
This series is in collaboration with the Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute team that provides clinical expertise in managing diabetes and other metabolic conditions in children and adults. Participants must be Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute patients ages 6 and older with a diagnosis of prediabetes, Type 1 diabetes or Type 2 diabetes. Patients under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Class themes will vary.