Farm to Fork Nutrition
Thursday, September 13, Cameron Regional Medical Center hosted a Farm to Fork class. Roughly 10 area residents participated in the educational event. The purpose of the class is to discuss our relationship with food as a society and as individuals. The class emphasized moderation in portions and incorporating nutrition dense foods “superfoods”.
Delving into questions like: Why is the simple concept of healthy eating so difficult for individuals to put into action? How is it that many chronic diseases can be prevented through good nutrition, yet our population continues on path to overweight or obesity? Things have changed according to what we eat; we have gone from growing and canning our own food to being fed food that we have no clue what’s in it. The change can’t start until we begin discussing our relationship with food.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognizes obesity as a serious concern because it is associated with poorer mental health outcomes, reduced quality of life, and the leading causes of death in the U.S. and worldwide, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer.
Cameron Regional Medical Center offers FREE nutrition/health related classes every month. The “Healthy Eating for Diabetes” class teaches participants about protein, fat and carbohydrates and the effect on blood glucose levels. Portion control, label reading and building a healthy meal are incorporated throughout the presentation. The “Farm to Fork” class discusses our current dysfunctional food system, the influences behind its current structure, and creates awareness so individuals can modify their relationship with food to make healthier choices.
Adopting a healthy lifestyle starts in our homes and in our community. Both classes are open to the public. The next Healthy Eating for Diabetes class will be held on October 4 from 10-11:30AM and the next Farm to Fork Class will be held November 13 from 6-7:30PM. For more information, call the Nutrition Services Department at 816-649-3277.
