Food for Life Class Offerings

So looking forward to learning, tasting, wondering, laughing and becoming empowered together soon!
Classes are currently scheduled for the second Saturday of every month from 2-4pm covering the power of foods for cancer prevention and survival, blood sugar control, natural appetite control, digestive health, holidays and hormones. You may learn more information about each scheduled class as well as register by clicking the button below. The class in August will be held August 9th.
**Two-day immersion classes covering one of each of the following topics, Cancer Prevention and Survival, Diabetes, and Hormone Health are forthcoming. These will be structured as 2 half-day, 4 classes per day courses over of a lovely morning or afternoon on the farm with breaks, a farm walk as well as a harvest. Please click here if you would like to be emailed about these upcoming classes.

About the Food for Life Program

The Food for Life program was created by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) and exists to help empower people to greater health through increasing plants in our diets. Instructors are trained to translate complex scientific nutrition information into simple, tasty, health- promoting meals.

Each class includes a short video lecturette from an M.D. or registered dietitian at the Barnard Medical Center at George Washington University in Washington D.C. followed by an empowering and engaging discussion while watching 3 cooking demonstrations. Generous sized samples to taste, as well a topic literature and recipes are also provided to take home.

You may reach Kelsey with questions or feedback- gardenworkstas@gmail.com

“The beauty of food as medicine is that the choice to heal and promote health can begin as soon as the next meal”
— Unknown

This link will take you to a quick poll if you would like to vote for the classes of greatest interest for consideration for possible pop up classes added to the 2023 schedule.

The Power of Foods for Diabetes Prevention and Treatment

Learn how a plant-based diet reduces the risk of diabetes and can greatly benefit those who have been diagnosed with the disease. Each class offers a cooking demonstration and provides samples of delicious, health-promoting meals, along with easy and affordable recipes.

Featured Class Topics

  • Introduction to How Foods Fight Diabetes

  • The Power of Your Plate and Grocery Cart

  • Understanding Type 2 Diabetes

  • Designing a Diet for Maximum Weight Control

  • The Glycemic Index

  • Keeping a Healthy Heart

  • Diabetes Care From Head to Toe

  • Making It Work for You

 

The Power of Food for Cancer Prevention and Survival

Understand how to prepare cancer-fighting meals loaded with antioxidants and phytochemicals, high-fiber and low-fat foods, and healthy dairy alternatives. The series also provides information on planning meals and maintaining a healthy weight.

Featured Class Topics

  • Introduction to How Foods Fight Cancer

  • Fueling Up on Low-Fat Foods

  • Favoring Fiber

  • Discovering Dairy Alternatives

  • Replacing Meat

  • Cancer-Fighting Compounds and Immune-Boosting Foods

  • Maintaining a Healthy Weight

  • Foods and Breast Cancer Survival (Supplemental Class)

  • Foods and Prostate Cancer Survival (Supplemental Class)

Food for Life: Your Body in Balance

Dietary choices have a surprisingly powerful effect on hormones and the problems they cause. The information provided in these classes explains the latest research and offers a new approach to treating, preventing, and even curing many of the most common and persistent health problems.

Featured Class Topics

  • Foods for Fertility

  • Curing Cramps and Premenstrual Syndrome

  • Tackling Hormone-Related Cancers

  • Reversing Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

  • Tackling Menopause

  • Curing Erectile Dysfunction and Saving Your Life

  • A Healthy Thyroid

  • Foods and Mood

  • Avoiding Environmental Chemicals

 

Cooking to Combat COVID-19

Lifestyle-related underlying health conditions, like diabetes, hypertension, and obesity are associated with the worst COVID-19 outcomes. But people often don’t know that plant-based diets are scientifically proven to prevent and even reverse many of those diseases. Learn important nutrition information, cooking tips, and recipes for optimal health during the pandemic.

Featured Class Topics

  • Cancer-Fighting Compounds and Immune-Boosting Foods

  • Foods for a Healthy Heart

  • Introduction to How Foods Fight Diabetes

  • Foods and Mood

 

The Power of Plant-Based Nutrition on Health- Shorter Basics Class

Based on the Physicians Committee’s online 21-Day Vegan Kickstart program, discover that the guiding principle for weight loss and good health is not restricting the amount of food eaten but rather choosing the healthiest foods—fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes. This course does not include live cooking demonstrations.

Featured Class Topics

  • Kickstart Your Health: Weight Control and Diabetes Prevention

  • Let’s Go (Begin Kickstart, Label Reading)

  • Getting in Gear

  • Weight Loss

The Power of Food for Health on A Budget

Find out about the economic value and health benefits of plant-based foods. Attendees discover the relationship between diet and disease, get tips on planning a budget-friendly weekly or monthly menu, and enjoy cooking demonstrations that do not require costly cooking gadgets or equipment.

Featured Class Topics

  • The Power Plate

  • How Foods Fight Diabetes

  • Foods for a Healthy Weight

  • How Foods Fight Heart Disease

  • Grocery Store Tour (Supplemental Class)

 

Food for Life: Let’s Beat Breast Cancer

Featured Class Topics

  • Introduction to How Foods Fight Cancer

  • Fueling Up On Low-Fat, High-Fiber Foods

  • Discovering Dairy and Meat Alternatives

  • Cancer-Fighting Compounds and Healthy Weight Control

  • Food for Breast Cancer Prevention and Survival

 

The Power of Food for Workforce Health

Offered onsite as employee ‘brown bag’ lunch or other set up to help a group of employees and their employer improve health, productivity, wellness and lower insurance premiums

Featured Class Topics

  • Power on Your Plate

  • Let’s Go!

  • Getting in Gear

  • Breaking the Food Seduction

  • Keys for Natural Appetite Control

  • Digestive Health

  • Introduction to How Food Fight Cancer

  • Introduction to How Foods Fight Diabetes

  • Healthy Blood Pressure

 

The Power of Food for a Healthy Start (in Life)

Learn the benefits of the Power Plate, which contains whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables. Children ages 9-12 will learn about the health benefits of eating a plant-based diet while sampling delicious, kid-friendly recipes. The curriculum aims to empower children with the knowledge and skills they need to establish healthy habits for life.

Featured Class Topics and Objectives

  • Bang-Up Breakfasts
    Learn the important role diet plays in the cancer process.

  • In-Betweener Meals and Sweeter Deals
    Identify the new four food groups using the Power Plate and understand the role of dietary fat, cholesterol, and fiber for overall health.

  • Rainbow Lunches
    Understand the importance of eating a “rainbow” of fruits and vegetables loaded with vitamins and minerals.

  • Digging These Dinners
    Recognize plant-based foods that are full of protein, calcium, and iron.

African American Culinary Heritage

The African American Culinary Heritage curriculum is intended to inspire and empower healthful eating for the purpose of preventing and arresting chronic diseases disproportionately affecting African Americans by connecting to culturally relevant recipes. The course will also help participants seeking to prevent or overcome high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and other health conditions that disproportionately affect African Americans.

Featured Class Topics

  • The Power of Your Plate

  • Foods for a Healthy Heart

  • Introduction to How Foods Fight Diabetes

  • Introduction to How Foods Fight Cancer

  • Designing a Diet for Maximum Weight Control

  • Making It Work for You

Power Foods for the Brain

This is a special class only offered as a single presentation.

Plant-based foods are beneficial to the brain and may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. A decline in brain health is not an inevitable part of aging. But how we eat and live can help us protect our memory and stay sharp into old age. In this stand-alone class, you will learn strategies for maintaining memory and improving brain function including how to prepare brain health promoting meals.

 

Food for a Healthy Heart

This is a special class only offered as a single presentation.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and around the world. Research, however, shows a plant-based diet does not just prevent heart disease, but it can manage and sometimes even reverse it. In this stand-alone class learn about the key role of healthful eating habits and other lifestyle factors in heart health.

 

The Power of Food on Fitness

A special ‘single class’ topic offering scientific evidence in medical literature showing that a diet comprising whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables has been shown to provide the ideal fuel for any physical activity and enhanced recovery. This stand-alone class delivers the knowledge and skills needed to prepare simple, nutritious meals that fuel optimal fitness and recovery.

 

The Power of Food for Healthy Weight Management

Discover which foods are optimal for weight management, learn about various health topics, and get empowered with the practical cooking skills needed for better health. Enjoy cooking demonstrations and taste delicious, healthful dishes in a supportive group setting.

Featured Class Topics

  • Power of Your Plate

  • Let’s Go!

  • Getting in Gear

  • Breaking the Food Seduction

  • Keys for Natural Appetite Control

  • Digestive Health

  • Healthy Blood Pressure