VISUALLY TRANSLATING CULINARY MEDICINE: THE INNOVATION BEHIND CREATING A HEALTHY/WHOLESOME COOKBOOK RAISING FOOD LITERACY AND COMBATTING CARDIOMETABOLIC RISK FACTORS

Abstract

Significance

Using my creative photography/videography skills, I have created an interactive cookbook to increase culinary and health literacy for low-income Fresh Start patients from rural eastern North Carolina. This cookbook will empower patients of the Fresh Start program to have an increased quality of life by equipping enhanced culinary skills to support improved diet quality, nutrition, and health.

We “eat with our eyes”. Creating food that is beautiful, flavorful, and healthy- combines art and science to meet sensory and nutritional needs. To address barriers and promote healthy eating I have created an interactive cookbook that uniquely has both step-by-step recipes with pictures and QR codes leading to brief videos visualizing cooking techniques as well as introductory material supporting food literacy (e.g., you don’t have this use that, things to keep in your pantry) that are visually appealing and simple to promote healthier eating and tailored for individuals with less financial resources (e.g., inexpensive, common ingredients, limited equipment) and literacy/numeracy (reading and following recipe) while promoting healthy eating with a variety of colors, textures, flavors.

My Final Product The finished product consists of a hardcopy cookbook with sections that include Breakfast, Soups, Salads and Snacks, Vegetables, Main dishes, and Desserts. Each section contains modified recipes to accompany the needs of the patient population, prioritizing fruits and nonstarchy vegetables as well as low sugar, lean proteins, and fiber. Every recipe has been handmade and photographed in a visually appealing manner. Not only were the recipes photographed but the culinary process has been brought to life through the utilization of step-by-step cooking videos accessed through QR codes. Patients can now visualize the cooking process increasing their culinary skills and self-efficacy. Recipe videos will also be utilized on the Fresh Start social media page to increase participant engagement. This cookbook has been made available both in paper copies as well as digitally to increase access for every patient the Fresh Start Program serves.