Last weekend, Cooking for Solutions—an annual event celebrating food, cooking and sustainability—was held at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, Calif. Two Kaiser Permanente physicians participated in the event to highlight the links between a hands-on approach to food and better health.
Preston Maring, MD, associate physician-in-chief at Kaiser Permanente Oakland (Calif.) Medical Center, showed children how easy it is to get cooking. Kids got first-hand experience making simple and tasty snacks, including salsa and guacamole, using fresh and local ingredients. Dr. Maring, the founder of Kaiser Permanente’s first farmers market, has a passion for engaging children in the kitchen and opening their eyes to how delicious fruits and vegetables can be.
Keith Fabisiak, MD, assistant chief of pediatrics at Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara (Calif.) Medical Center, taught kids and their families about square-foot gardening, a technique that allows people to grow fresh produce in small spaces. Dr. Fabisiak, a certified instructor of square-foot gardening, believes that children are more likely to eat vegetables when they grow their own. Square-foot gardening also makes for a great outdoor activity with the family.
You can read more about the event here.
