At City of Hope®’s Cherng Family Center for Integrative Oncology, food is medicine — supporting the body, mind and quality of life during and after cancer treatment.
"Why [do] we say food is medicine, because it doesn't just feed your gut. It feeds your mind... that's why I say, 'food is not just to eat and live,'" said Preeti Soni, MS, RD, CDCES. "It is something that improves the quality of your life. It is something for your healing."
In a cooking demonstration from the Food is Medicine Hope Kitchen event, Chef Jimmy Wang, Executive Director of Product Innovation at Panda Restaurant Group, and City of Hope integrative dietitian Preeti Soni, MS, RD, CDCES, share how simple, balanced, nutrient-dense meals can help patients and families feel more confident in the kitchen.
"The data clearly shows that nutrition can really play an important role, both in their [patients'] quality of life as well as their long-term outcomes. And our goal is to really make integrative oncology approaches part of standard of care," said Richard T. Lee, M.D., Cherng Family Director’s Chair, Cherng Family Center.
The Cherng Family Center brings together conventional cancer treatments with evidence-based integrative therapies, including nutrition support, acupuncture, meditation and other whole-person approaches to care. Through patient care, research and education, the center is helping shape a more holistic standard of cancer care.