A Veggies for Health class attendee mixes a custom spice blend. Attendees choose a spice recipe to mix up and take home to enhance their healthy meals.
Before joining Veggies for Health, Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital doctors told Betty Pore she needed to lose 100 pounds or she could be at risk for serious health issues.
Pore took action, turning to the hospital’s medical fitness Galter Life Center, where a staffer encouraged her to sign up for Swedish Hospital’s nutrition program. Two years later, Pore is still involved with Veggies for Health. Not only did she learn lifelong food skills and lose weight, Pore was also inspired to explore a career in healthcare.
Started in 2021, Veggies for Health is an eight-week nutrition course open to all community members, including people experiencing food insecurity and nutrition-related diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease or kidney disease.
The program is led by dietitian AK Kritt, community nutrition coordinator for Swedish Hospital. The classes meet weekly for lessons on healthy eating, and attendees receive a bag of fresh produce to take home each week.