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Volume 5, Issue 4 (Suppl)

Occup Med Health Aff

ISSN: 2329-6879 OMHA, an open access journal

Health Congress 2017

October 16-17, 2017

October 16-17, 2017 Dubai, UAE

World Congress on

Industrial Health, Healthcare and Medical Tourism

Youth nutrition and culinary education: Effective programs and initiatives in engaging, educating and

empowering young people to make sustainable healthy choices

Haile Thomas

The HAPPY Organization Inc., USA

he need for nutrition and culinary education in elementary and middle schools in underserved/at-risk communities is

significant. Recent reports by the World Health Organization estimates that the childhood obesity epidemic in the United

States affects more than 23 million children and teens. Obese children face increased risk of premature onset of illnesses,

including cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes, highly disabling degenerative disease of the joints and some cancers. The

effects can also lead to social discrimination, low self- esteem and a wide range of barriers, including physical and psychological

consequences, which impact education attainment. These consequences then trickle through into adulthood and pose

economic consequences for youth, their families and our society. Affordable, fun, engaging and innovative approaches for

delivering nutrition and culinary education programs are essential for these communities to be able to receive life-changing

health and prevention education that helps to minimize their risk and empowers them to make healthy food choices and fully

understanding why they should. Our programs have been significant in changing kids’ perception of healthy foods, as well as

in educating them about the benefits associated with embracing healthy eating habits. Youth in our programs enjoy engaging

in hands-on cooking classes using fresh fruits and vegetables, learning about basic plant-based nutrition, taking field trips (to

farms, grocery stores and farmers’ markets) that serve to inform them about where real whole-foods come from, how they

are grown and or processed. Kids also learn about risks associated with consuming unhealthy food products, how to read and

understand food labels, how nutrients work in their bodies and the best way to cook and eat for optimal health.

Occup Med Health Aff 2017, 5:4 (Suppl)

DOI: 10.4172/2329-6879-C1-038