The Culinary Medicine program is designed to familiarize health professions students with the value of learning about healthy food and ingredients. This is accomplished through practical, hands-on, and culturally relevant training in meal planning and quality food preparation. Integrating the art of food preparation and cooking with the science of nutrition and evidence-based medicine equips students with the essential skills for engaging in effective behavior-change conversations with their future patients. Led by Elaina Moon, owner of Healthy Eats Nutrition Services, and Dr. Kathaleen Briggs-Early, PNWU Professor of Nutrition, sessions are FREE and Open to ALL Northwest Interprofessional Health Collaborative (NIHC) Student Participants from CWU, Heritage, PNWU, and WSU!
The NIHC Culinary Medicine Program was recently awarded a grant through Greater Health Now’s Community Investment grant program, Connect2Everyone, in support of the Expanding Community Impact of Culinary Medicine in Yakima County pilot project. Thanks to this collaboration, the NIHC is delighted to expand its offerings of culinary medicine sessions for health professions learners. Additionally, we are extending our community outreach through student-led community demonstrations. If you have any questions about this award, please contact the NIHC at ipe@pnwu.edu or PNWU’s Office of Development at development@pnwu.edu.
AY24-25 Culinary Medicine Schedule
The NIHC Culinary Medicine Program is exclusively reserved for students currently enrolled in a health professions program within our partner institutions.
Registration is required for attendance. Each session is limited to 24 participants and 4 Student Volunteers. Sign-ups will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Sign-ups will open three (3) weeks before each session. Check back here for the session registration link.
Classes are held on Saturdays from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.
No cooking experience is necessary!
Location of the culinary lab: Healthy Eats Classroom 1101 W. Yakima Ave. Suite 115
For questions: Elaina Moon: healthymoon@outlook.com or Dr. Kathaleen Brings Early: kearly@pnwu.edu
September 21, 2024: Renal/Kidney Health
Academic Speaker: Brenda Collins, MS, RD
Culinary Speaker: Elaina Moon, BS
Sign-Up: Closed (opens 8/29/24)
(This session is funded through the Greater Health Now Community Investment grant program: Connect2Everyone)
October 5, 2024: Food Allergies & Sensitivities
Academic Speaker: Katie Thorner, RDN
Culinary Speaker: Elaina Moon, BS
Sign-Up: Closed (opens 9/12/24)
(This session is funded through the Greater Health Now Community Investment grant program: Connect2Everyone)
October 19, 2024: Low-Income Healthy Meal Plans
Academic Speaker: Kathaleen Briggs Early, PhD, RDN, CDE
Culinary Speaker: Elaina Moon, BS
Sign-Up: Closed (opens 9/26/24)
(This session is funded through the Greater Health Now Community Investment grant program: Connect2Everyone)
November 2, 2024: Eating Patterns to Support Cancer During & After Treatment
Academic Speaker: Kathaleen Briggs Early, PhD, RDN, CDE
Culinary Speaker: Elaina Moon, BS
Sign-Up: Closed (opens 10/10/24)
(This session is funded through the Greater Health Now Community Investment grant program: Connect2Everyone)
January 11, 2025: Plant-Based Eating Patterns
Academic speaker: Kathaleen Briggs Early, PhD, RDN, CDE
Culinary Speaker: Elaina Moon, BS
Sign-Up: Closed (opens 12/12/24)
January 25, 2025: Heart Health/Mediterranean Eating Pattern
Academic Speaker: Kathaleen Briggs Early, PhD, RDN, CDE
Culinary Speaker: Elaina Moon, BS
Sign-Up: Closed (opens 1/2/25)
February 1, 2025: Prevention & Control of Diabetes
Academic Speaker: Kathaleen Briggs Early, PhD, RDN, CDE
Culinary Speaker: Elaina Moon, BS
Sign-Up: Closed (opens 1/9/25)
March 1, 2025: The Healthier Mexican-American Eating Pattern
Academic Speaker: Kathaleen Briggs Early, PhD, RDN, CDE
Culinary Speaker: Elaina Moon, BS
Sign-Up: Closed (opens 2/6/25)
Participation Expectations
- Pre-register for the class.
- Watch a short pre-recorded presentation by an academic speaker before attending the session
- Come ready to watch, listen, learn, and cook with other health professions students
- Eat! Talk about the recipes/ingredients and how they can be useful for your future patient populations
- Help clean up and take leftovers home (if there are any!)
Earning a Certificate of Achievement in Culinary Medicine
- Notify the NIHC at ipe@pnwu.edu of your interest in earning your Certificate of Achievement in Culinary Medicine.
- Engage in a minimum of four distinct culinary medicine sessions as a student participant. Note that volunteering does not contribute toward the completion of the culinary medicine certificate.
- Work with an interprofessional team of students to provide a public cooking demonstration within the community.
- Complete your reflection and feedback questionnaire in REDCap.
- Obtain your certificate and list this achievement on your resume/CV!
- Please note – at this time, the Culinary Medicine Program is only available to enrolled health professions students participating in the Northwest Interprofessional Health Collaborative (NIHC).