Description

Empowering Clients in the Kitchen: How to Promote Food Skills and Mental Health

The Port Hope Northumberland Community Health Centre (PHNCHC) offers a number of food literacy programs geared towards populations at higher risk for mental health issues.  The PHNCHC believes bringing people together in the kitchen to learn about food in a safe and welcoming environment contributes to a number of positive health benefits. This session will share how food and cooking programs can be implemented to help promote food knowledge, food skills, and food access. Specifically, a review of a new cooking program for Northumberland Hills Hospital’s Mental Health Services will outline how culinary education can be initiated in an outreach setting.

About the Presenter:

Adam Hudson (Community Dietitian, Port Hope Community Health Centre) is a community registered dietitian who provides nutritional education – making use of his strong culinary background – to promote healthy eating. Along with nutrition degrees from the University of Guelph and Acadia University, Adam has more than eight years of hands-on cooking experience, which includes working in restaurants under red-seal chefs. Adam is an advocate for bringing food back to the table and believes that culinary education for both his clients and members of the community will enable them to adopt and maintain a healthier lifestyle.