A new article published in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition highlights the benefits of culinary medicine in the pediatric gastroenterology population. Culinary medicine combines medical education, nutrition, and cooking skills to help patients manage and treat disease. While the role of nutrition in managing and preventing chronic disease is well understood, the true value of culinary medicine lies in its ability to help patients apply that knowledge to their everyday lives. Through interactive sessions and recipes, patients and providers alike can gain confidence in managing dietary treatments tailored to specific conditions.
In a recent pilot project, a team consisting of a GI physician, dietitian, and chef led a remote culinary medicine session for healthcare providers. The physician presented a GI-related diagnosis, the dietitian explained how to use food as part of the treatment, and the chef demonstrated practical cooking tips to support the diet prescription. After the session, participants noted that they felt more confident in counseling patients and preparing recipes aligned with specific dietary needs. This approach highlights how culinary medicine can enhance patient care through practical, food-based education, and can be applied to a variety of digestive-related conditions.
The Celiac Disease Foundation offers quarterly Innovations in Culinary Medicine webinars, bringing together patients and healthcare providers to explore practical culinary medicine techniques. Upcoming topics include: clinical trials in celiac disease, building bone health, food insecurity, and optimizing nutritional intake. View previous sessions and sign up for an upcoming webinar by clicking this link: https://celiac.org/culinary-medicine-webinars/
Article Authors: Sharon Weston, Vanessa Weisbrod, Debora Duro
Full text article citation: Weston S, Weisbrod V, Duro D. Applications of culinary medicine in the pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition field. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2024;79(3):453-456. doi:10.1002/jpn3.12308