UNECOM SGA President Liz Coviello,

Culinary Doctor Co-Presidents Matthew Dietz and Samir Majmudar

What did you have for lunch today? A serving of trans fat washed down with a healthy glass of high fructose corn syrup? Grandé caramel mochacinnos for breakfast, quarter pounders with super sized fries for dinner—not uncommon in the life of a medical student.

Medical students’ hectic schedules do not allow time for preparing fresh, nutritious meals. Students at the University of New England’s College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNECOM) have found a way to combat this problem with a new doctor, the Culinary Doctor.

The Culinary Doctor’s goal is to combine the art of cooking with student’s passion for medicine to create an important dish—A Healthy America. The club promotes fresh, quick and balanced meal ideas for busy students on a tight budget.

Osteopathic students will practice the whole-body approach to medicine; it is imperative that student-doctors first learn to prepare affordable, healthy food before they can educate patients about balanced diets and lifestyles.

Throughout the last year, the club has sponsored themed cooking classes at Southern Maine Community College’s Culinary School, about 15 minutes from campus. Eating by color and learning how to use fresh, local Maine produce and seafood were just two of the creative classes.

This year the club plans to include the surrounding community, including a Fall Harvest Cooking Contest. Students who enter the cook-off must use local, fresh ingredients with the caveat that the meals must be within the parameters of the federal grant program Women, Infant and Children (WIC). WIC foods are high in calcium, iron, protein and Vitamins A and C.

The judges at the Fall Harvest will taste at least 20 different student-prepared, healthy, economical dishes. The judging is open to all students who pay a small fee that the Culinary Doctor will use to educate the community. The funds this year will be used to distribute cookbooks to WIC and other local organizations like the Biddeford Free Clinic.

Within the cookbook there will be tips on how to trim fat, calories and sugar from daily diets. Want to cut half the calories and fat from your morning coffee? Try switching from cream to 1% milk. How about substituting avocado or hummus for mayonnaise in your next sandwich or salad?

Culinary Doctor was created one year ago by Angie Senese, OMS III, Susan Dadaian, OMS III, and Jennifer Blau, OMS III, with a grant from Maine’s Coastal Healthy Community Coalition. The Coalition’s goal is to educate and prevent chronic disease and encourage healthy lifestyles among the community.

To discover more about the Culinary Doctor please email 
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BON APPETITE!