New UArizona initiative to help communities harness the power of food as medicine
A new UArizona initiative will use culinary medicine to help prevent and manage chronic diseases.
Photo: Steve Meckler
A two-year pilot project involving the UA Libraries, School of Nutritional Sciences and Wellness, College of Medicine – Phoenix, and Cooperative Extension has been awarded $750,000 by Novo Nordisk, a global health care organization based in Denmark, to expand culinary medicine programs at the University and throughout the state. The project will engage learners from multiple levels – from 4-H high school students to medical students – in cooking demonstrations, gardening, and nutrition education. Arizonans in medically underserved and rural communities are a specific focus.
Cheryl Casey, Open Education Librarian and project team member, will support faculty, students, and community members in the development of open educational resources (OER). OER will include recipes, food management and preparation resources, and information on accessing quality, affordable food. The team plans to publish OER using the Pressbooks platform, which is supported by the Libraries and the University Center for Assessment, Teaching & Technology.
“Developing free, customizable resources will benefit students and community members, as well as learners around the world,” Casey said.