WHO CHANGE THE WORLD?

  3 min

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EXPERT OPINION

Some see food as more than just a source to stay alive or as something to enjoy. These changemakers show that food can also have a healing effect, or even be used as a tool for disease prevention. We asked these four inspiring people what their best advice is regarding food
as medicine.

Jaimy van der Linden  Xiao Er Kong

“Food is the language through which society reveals its structure. For many of us, food is the problem, but for all of us food is the solution. It is my goal to make sure that every child in the world has access to healthy fresh food produced in an equitable and earth-conscious manner. It is entirely possible to eat our way to good health.”


What does food as medicine mean to you in its broadest sense?

Stephen Ritz

Food as the basis of education

Stephen Ritz believes that students should not have to leave their community to live, learn, and earn in a better one. The first edible classroom of the United States. which has evolved into the National Health, Wellness and Learning Center. Besides the 85,000 pounds of fruit and vegetables which have grown in the South Bronx. A wonderful side-effect of Ritz’s education program is the daily amount of 50.000 children in his classrooms, who not only cultivate and consume healthier food but who have the prospect of a better future career too. Ritzs’ program is project-based and helps students to learn critical thinking and create their own ecosystems.  


© Catherine S. Katz

“To me, ‘food as medicine’ means that our efforts to prioritize and protect our health begin right on our plate, several times a day. Food is our fuel, when we provide children with whole-food meals, we can help prevent them from developing various health conditions linked to diet and lifestyle. Moreover, food is not only medicine for our bodies, but for our minds, too. Since switching to eating plant-based, my mind is clearer, my energy levels are higher, and I feel proud to eat a diet that also is far more sustainable for the environment.”


What does food as medicine mean to you in its broadest sense?

Eric Adams

Food as the medicine for mind and body

Eric Adams, Brooklyn Borough President, was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in April 2016. After he lost vision in his left eye and suffered nerve damage in his hands and feet, he went against the initial recommendations of his doctors and pursued a whole-food, plant-based diet. Within three months, Adams reversed his diabetes diagnosis, lost 35 pounds, and normalized his cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Since this health and lifestyle transformation, he has subsequently impacted the health of countless New Yorkers facing chronic diseases through plant-based food initiatives. 


“Food should sustain and nurture us, not cause us harm. I have no issues with ice cream as a treat, but the meal you eat should not have the nutritional value of desert! Offering food that meets specialized requirements such as meal plans for maternity support, which we are creating with leading experts. Ultimately, we believe the insurance industry will put programs in place to subsidize meals for targeted populations."




What does food as medicine mean to you in its broadest sense?

Christine Day

Food as the accessible building blocks of good health

Christine Day is the CEO of LUVO, a company that (mainly) focuses on frozen food. Her passion came from personal experiences. Five years ago, she realized that easy and healthy food matching the dietary requirements of her mother with late stage Type 2 Diabetes was not available in grocery stores. Here she saw an opportunity to grow; convenient food that tastes great, follows simple nutrition principles, is made sustainably and has an accessible price point. Christine wanted to make a meaningful impact for people who get diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and obesity. For these reasons she wants to start a fight for good food and support the food is medicine movement.


“Food is the fuel that runs every aspect of the incredible machine that is the human body.  Food is the construction material for the growing bodies of children we love.  And food...is the leading cause of premature death and chronic disease in the modern world today! 

“Food as medicine is the use of food to fuel vitality, longevity, and sustainability; and to pay these advantages to those we love. So, unlike any other medicine, food can be a source of both health, and pleasure.  And since it can be, it ought to be!”


What does food as medicine mean to you in its broadest sense?

Dr. David L. Katz

Food as the source of pleasure

Dr. David L. Katz is a world-renowned expert in nutrition, disease prevention, and health promotion. He is the Founding Director of Yale University's Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center and Founder and President of the True Health Initiative. This initiative is a global coalition of experts, fighting fake facts to create a population that uses evidence-based practices of lifestyle as medicine. Mr. Katz believes in the fact that clinicians should strive for a world without preventable disease and that our diet is the single most important factor for our health in the modern world.


© Catherine S. Katz

  3 min

Lees verder

Jaimy van der Linden  Xiao Er Kong

Some see food as more than just a source to stay alive or as something to enjoy. These changemakers show that food can also have a healing effect, or even be used as a tool for disease prevention. We asked these four inspiring people what their best advice is regarding food
as medicine.

“Food is the language through which society reveals its structure. For many of us, food is the problem, but for all of us food is the solution. It is my goal to make sure that every child in the world has access to healthy fresh food produced in an equitable and earth-conscious manner. It is entirely possible to eat our way to good health.”


What does food as medicine mean to you in its broadest sense?

Stephen Ritz

Food as the basis of education

Stephen Ritz believes that students should not have to leave their community to live, learn, and earn in a better one. The first edible classroom of the United States. which has evolved into the National Health, Wellness and Learning Center. Besides the 85,000 pounds of fruit and vegetables which have grown in the South Bronx. A wonderful side-effect of Ritz’s education program is the daily amount of 50.000 children in his classrooms, who not only cultivate and consume healthier food but who have the prospect of a better future career too. Ritzs’ program is project-based and helps students to learn critical thinking and create their own ecosystems.  


“Food should sustain and nurture us, not cause us harm. I have no issues with ice cream as a treat, but the meal you eat should not have the nutritional value of desert! Offering food that meets specialized requirements such as meal plans for maternity support, which we are creating with leading experts. Ultimately, we believe the insurance industry will put programs in place to subsidize meals for targeted populations."




What does food as medicine mean to you in its broadest sense?

Christine Day

Food as the accessible building blocks of good health

Christine Day is the CEO of LUVO, a company that (mainly) focuses on frozen food. Her passion came from personal experiences. Five years ago, she realized that easy and healthy food matching the dietary requirements of her mother with late stage Type 2 Diabetes was not available in grocery stores. Here she saw an opportunity to grow; convenient food that tastes great, follows simple nutrition principles, is made sustainably and has an accessible price point. Christine wanted to make a meaningful impact for people who get diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and obesity. For these reasons she wants to start a fight for good food and support the food is medicine movement.


“To me, ‘food as medicine’ means that our efforts to prioritize and protect our health begin right on our plate, several times a day. Food is our fuel, when we provide children with whole-food meals, we can help prevent them from developing various health conditions linked to diet and lifestyle. Moreover, food is not only medicine for our bodies, but for our minds, too. Since switching to eating plant-based, my mind is clearer, my energy levels are higher, and I feel proud to eat a diet that also is far more sustainable for the environment.”


What does food as medicine mean to you in its broadest sense?

Eric Adams

Food as the medicine for mind and body

Eric Adams, Brooklyn Borough President, was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in April 2016. After he lost vision in his left eye and suffered nerve damage in his hands and feet, he went against the initial recommendations of his doctors and pursued a whole-food, plant-based diet. Within three months, Adams reversed his diabetes diagnosis, lost 35 pounds, and normalized his cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Since this health and lifestyle transformation, he has subsequently impacted the health of countless New Yorkers facing chronic diseases through plant-based food initiatives. 


“Food is the fuel that runs every aspect of the incredible machine that is the human body.  Food is the construction material for the growing bodies of children we love.  And food...is the leading cause of premature death and chronic disease in the modern world today! 

“Food as medicine is the use of food to fuel vitality, longevity, and sustainability; and to pay these advantages to those we love. So, unlike any other medicine, food can be a source of both health, and pleasure.  And since it can be, it ought to be!”


What does food as medicine mean to you in its broadest sense?

Dr. David L. Katz

Food as the source of pleasure

Dr. David L. Katz is a world-renowned expert in nutrition, disease prevention, and health promotion. He is the Founding Director of Yale University's Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center and Founder and President of the True Health Initiative. This initiative is a global coalition of experts, fighting fake facts to create a population that uses evidence-based practices of lifestyle as medicine. Mr. Katz believes in the fact that clinicians should strive for a world without preventable disease and that our diet is the single most important factor for our health in the modern world.


Overview magazines

Food Inspiration Magazine is the online magazine for foodservice professionals in search of inspiration and innovation. With the magazine we collect, enrich and spread inspiration. The free subscription magazine is published eight times per year and is an abundant source of inspiration for food and hospitality professionals. Our readers can be found in the U.S., Northern Europe, Latin America and Asia.
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