‘Culinary Medicine’ Course Taught in 60 Medical Institutions in America !

• Promoting 'Food is Medicine' campaign

• Training future doctors in preparing nutritious food

Washington (USA) – ‘Culinary Medicine’ course is a part of curriculum in more than 60 medical institutions in the USA. Tufts University has also introduced this course. Under this course, the future doctors are not only taught nutrition as theory but they are also made ‘kitchen literate’. Students studying medicine are future doctors, dentists and dieticians. They are being trained to cook good meals in the kitchens of the universities. The main purpose of the course is to encourage the concept of ‘Food is medicine’ under this mission. Here, doctors will not only advise on dietary changes but they will be able to explain to patients how to make nutritious food.

1. Doctors will have to teach about vegetables that can act as medicine on problems like diabetes, kidney problems and heart diseases, giving practical examples.

2. ‘Culinary Medicine’ Department’s Director Nadine Tassabehji says, “Taking protein diet is not enough for patients as doctors should know the cost of the ingredients used, time required for cooking and patient’s preferences including traditions followed by the patients.”

3. Doctors will not just treat the illness under this initiative but they will help to create complete health. Medical courses will soon be started under this initiative.

4. Research also shows that when a doctor knows cooking, he/she has more confidence to advise food as an effective medicine in the treatment.

Editorial Perspective

Under Indian culture, nutritious food used to be cooked focussing on health. Nowadays, however, Indians are emulating the western culture and like to eat pizzas and burgers. It wouldn’t be surprising if in future, Indians learn about nutritious food from westerners.