Doctors and Nurses Go Vegan to Teach Patients How to Do It, Too
Whether it’s for the animals, the environment, or your own health, going vegan is easier than ever, and word is getting out. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics asserts that eating vegan is “appropriate for all stages of the life-cycle” and that plant-based foods are “healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits for the prevention and treatment of certain diseases.” Now the Kaiser Permanente Fresno Medical Center in California is giving its doctors, nurses, and other medical staff the information and tools that they need in order to help themselves—and via extension, their patients—make the switch to delicious, healthy plant-based meals.
By attending cooking demonstrations and nutrition classes, health professionals at the medical center will gain useful skills and knowledge about vegan eating that they can then pass on to their patients, helping the entire community eat healthier and lower the risk of developing many common diseases. The program even includes a 21-day vegan challenge to help people change their habits.
Kaiser Permanente staff members have already learned that one useful tool for getting into vegan cooking is jackfruit, which has a “meaty” texture that makes it a perfect meat replacement in many dishes.
Tip: You can find seasoned, prepackaged jackfruit in many stores.
The staff is practicing what it preaches: One nurse says that she has already lost 14 pounds since jumping into the program. She told reporters, “If I’m trying to teach my patients how to eat, I need to be doing the same thing.”
Hoping to learn more about vegan food?
You’ve come to the right place. No matter where you live or work, PETA can help you get started on the path to a vegan lifestyle. Order our free vegan starter kit, bookmark our two-week vegan meal plan, browse hundreds of plant-based recipes, and get weekly tips sent directly to your inbox by signing up for PETA Living News using the form below!
All fields in bold are mandatory.
By submitting this form, you’re acknowledging that you have read and agree to our privacy policy and agree to receive e-mails from us.
