Food for Life Program

Karen Pullen in Food for Life apronI became certified to teach Food for Life classes in August, 2019. These classes are a perfect fit for my fervent belief that eating plant-based can be a natural and every-day way of eating, that it achieves remarkable results for health, and that instruction in a group setting can provide the support people need to make changes.

What is the Food for Life program? The best description is from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine website:

“Food for Life is an award-winning nutrition education and cooking class program that provides an innovative approach to diet-related chronic diseases. Since 2001, Food for Life has been a pioneer in delivering hands-on information about the direct role of plant-based nutrition in health and disease prevention to communities around the world.

Designed by physicians, nurses, and registered dietitians, Food for Life promotes healthful eating based on the latest scientific research. Each Food for Life class includes:

  • Specific information about how certain foods and nutrients work to promote or discourage disease
  • Cooking demonstrations of delicious  and healthful recipes
  • Practical cooking skills and tips for incorporating healthful eating habits into daily life
  • A supportive and motivational atmosphere to empower participants to take charge of their health with the foods that are put on their plates.”

There are six different evidence-based courses, each developed specifically for a particular health objective.

Some include cooking demonstrations and food samples and/or a book, and some don’t.  I can be specific once we’ve talked about your group’s needs. Contact me if you want to discuss the possibility of offering a course in your workplace, community center, clinic, hospital, church, school, non-profit, home, club!

Healthy Weight Management. Classes are two hours. Available as a single introductory class, 5-class series, or 7-class series.   

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

Cancer Prevention and Survival. Classes are two hours. Available as a 4-class series or 7-class series.

Understand how to prepare cancer-fighting meals loaded with antioxidants and phytochemicals, high-fiber and low-fat foods, and healthy dairy alternatives. Each class offers cooking demonstrations and sampling of three recipes. 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, High-Fiber 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)

Diabetes Prevention and Treatment. Classes are two hours. Available as a single introductory class, 4-class series or 8-class series.

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
* Using the Glycemic Index
* Keeping a Healthy Heart
* Diabetes Care from Head to Toe
* Making It Work for You

Plant-based Nutrition for Health. Four one-hour classes.

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

Healthy Basics on a Limited Budget. This is primarily a cooking class. A series of four, one-hour classes, three recipes sampled at each class. 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)

Kids’ Healthy Start. Four one-hour classes. Foods are sampled.

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
* In-Betweener Meals and Sweeter Deals
* Rainbow Lunches
* Digging These Dinners

Workforce Health: An Employee Wellness Program. Classes are one hour and three recipes are sampled. Available as a single introductory class, a 5-class series, or a 9-class series.     

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


Contact me if you have questions!