Wellbeing is the Main Course in University Teaching Kitchen
The University of Minnesota Center for Spirituality & Healing has been advancing the health and wellbeing of individuals, organizations, and communities since 1995. It offers interdisciplinary courses, conducts rigorous research, and advances integrative models of care. With no permanent teaching kitchen space, the center collaborates with community organizations to bring its programming to retail spaces, shared community kitchens and schools. This sustainable model allows the center to increase the accessibility of its programs and to maximize their reach.
A major focus at the center is its academic course Food Matters for Health Professionals: Cook Like Your Life Depends On It. This inter-professional course includes both didactic and hands-on culinary skills and reaches over 50 students per year from across health disciplines. It has also offered as a continuing education courses for working professionals.
Free and pay-as-you-can programming is typically offered quarterly and reaches almost 700 people. In addition, the Taking Charge of Your Health & Wellbeing website, free and openly accessible, leads visitors to examine six aspects of their wellbeing and attracts over 250,000 visitors each month. The Diet and Nutrition section includes a wealth of information and activities to support healthy eating.
