PRIVATE EVENT- African American Culinary Heritage

The Food for Life: African American Culinary Heritage curriculum is a plant-based nutrition and cooking program developed by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. The intended audience for this series is African Americans who are looking to prevent or overcome lifestyle-related chronic diseases. It is also designed for individuals seeking to explore plant-based versions of dishes commonly found on African American dining tables.

There are multiple socioeconomic factors that can play into these health disparities among African Americans. It’s commonly assumed that chronic diseases are genetic. However, lifestyle factors, like eating a whole foods, plant-based diet, have been shown to prevent and treat many chronic diseases and influence genes.

The African American culinary tradition, commonly referred to as “Soul Food” is as broad and diverse as the African American community that gave birth to its rise. Many of the dishes and meals that Americans enjoy today were developed in the pots and pans of those descendants of enslaved Africans. This program will:

●  Celebrate the ancestral ties of West African foodways that were brought to the United States through the Middle Passage and the culinary traditions developed by African Americans throughout their history in the United States

●  Honor the culinary traditions of descendants of enslaved Africans in America and their migration and culinary evolution to regions outside of the South

●  Explore plant-based adaptations of various Soul Food dishes

●  Highlight African American foodways in a way that may illuminate their broader historical and regional influences

Each class in the series will present a different meal, from breakfast to dinner, and recipes for special culturally connected gatherings.

This curriculum is intended to inspire and empower healthy eating for the purpose of preventing and arresting chronic disease disproportionately affecting African Americans by connecting to culturally relevant recipes.

Six-Class Series Description: classes are approximately 1 hour long on Thursdays

Class 1: The Power of Your Plate March 10th at 6:00pm Central

Class 2: Foods for a Healthy Heart March 17th at 6:00pm Central

Class 3: Introduction to How Foods Fight Diabetes March 24th at 6:00pm Central

Class 4: Introduction to How Foods Fight Cancer March 31st at 6:00pm Central

Class 5: Designing a Diet for Maximum Weight Control April 7th at 6:00pm Central

Class 6: Making It Work for You April 14th at 6:00pm Central