Education & Training
Training Modules
Food Insecurity Resources
Provider Toolkits
Review the resources available for healthcare providers to learn more about screening and referral for food insecurity.
View ResourcesPatient Resources
Review the many resources available to patients experiencing food insecurity both in Kentucky and nationwide.
View ResourcesTraining Future Medical Professionals
The Alliance is proud to present training materials for future healthcare providers in partnership with the UK College of Medicine. These presentations were used in a series of workshops for medical students, as we recognize the importance of training medical professionals on the impacts of food insecurity and nutrition.
These presentations provide an in-depth exploration of the critical links between food insecurity and chronic disease, as well as the innovative "food is medicine" programs emerging across the U.S. Designed for training future medical professionals, public health practitioners and anyone interested in the intersection of food, health and equity, these resources offer valuable insights into how nutrition-based interventions can improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations.
Through evidence-based content, these slides aim to enhance understanding of the ways food insecurity exacerbates diet-sensitive conditions like diabetes, heart disease and hypertension. Learn about impactful programs addressing these issues, from medically tailored meals to produce prescription initiatives, and discover the role healthcare providers can play in supporting food security as a social determinant of health.
These presentations serve as an educational tool for those committed to advancing health equity and using food as a pathway to better health.
Further Your Education
Online Graduate Certificate in Applied Nutrition & Culinary Medicine
In collaboration with the College of Medicine and College of Health Sciences, the department offers a Graduate Certificate in Applied Nutrition and Culinary Medicine. This 100% online, 12-credit program explores nutritional approaches to various disease states and practical culinary strategies to bridge dietary recommendations with application. Elective courses allow students to tailor their graduate certificate to the needs of their practice or discipline, while also presenting the latest research concerning drug and nutrient interactions, approaches to community program development and the physiologic basis for (or against) various dietary supplements.
Discover evidence-based strategies to address your patients' and clients' specific nutrition needs as well as their toughest questions. Connect with nutrition educators at UK to learn about nutritional approaches and practical culinary strategies to promote health. This graduate certificate is designed for all health professionals.
B.S. Degree in Dietetics or Human Nutrition & Certificates
The Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition offers outstanding higher education opportunities for students passionate about food, health and wellness. Our undergraduate program in Human Nutrition provides a strong foundation to prepare students for dental, medical, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy or physician assistant studies. We also have a long history of preparing successful Registered Dietitians for a rewarding career through our accredited didactic, coordinated and internship programs. Our graduate program in Nutrition and Food Systems is focused on practical and critical thinking to solve nutrition-related problems in an evolving global society.
For undergraduates interested in further specializations, the department also offers a Certificate in Food Systems and Hunger Studies and a Certificate in Nutrition for Human Performance. We take pride in our work to fulfill the land-grant mission of teaching, research and service.
DHN593: Introduction to Culinary Medicine
This course introduces students to the field of culinary medicine, which involves using evidence-based nutrition, medical knowledge and culinary skills to assist healthcare providers and nutrition professionals in supporting patients and their families in achieving and maintaining optimal health and wellness through diet. Students learn key food preparation and food science principles for applying their knowledge.
NS689: Nutrition & Chronic Diseases
This course focuses on selected topics in nutritional sciences related to health and chronic diseases, e.g., autoimmune conditions, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and cancer. Students explore the pathophysiology of chronic diseases influenced by nutrition and discuss mechanisms underlying nutritional approaches for prevention and intervention.
NS801: Precision Nutrition & Advanced Culinary Medicine
The purpose of this course is to provide students with evidence-based, practical knowledge to better understand nutrition and how it relates to the health of patients through educational modules combined with instructional cooking videos. This course bridges biomedical and clinical scenarios with tested culinary strategies.
Connect With Us
308 Funkhouser Building
Lexington, KY 40506
859-218-5081
foodashealth@uky.edu