皇家华人

Teaching embedded in UCL鈥檚 medical education programmes is addressing the link between sustainable and healthy living and health and disease.

The Culinary Medicine in Primary Care course is an integral part of听UCL听Medical School鈥檚 Core General Practice course, during which Year 5 students spend 18 days in a GP practice over six weeks.听听

The听teaching addresses aspects of the World Health Organisation鈥檚听'triple billion'听targets听and听the听sustainable development goals, which aim to support 'universal health care' delivery and promotion of health and well-being through delivery of primary care.听听

鈥淥ur听teaching supports students鈥櫶齱ith patients听by听providing听spaces for conversations about sustainable and healthy living; considering听its inter-relationship with health and disease,鈥澨齟xplains Dr Sara Thompson (UCL Primary Care & Population Health);听鈥淭hey also听examine current evidence and its relevance to the individual patient and collaborate with the patient to explore ways to implement changes to their lifestyle.鈥澨�

The听course includes a one-day practical culinary medicine听workshop, during which听students听discuss how they听themselves and their future patients can reduce the carbon footprint of their food.听鈥漇tudents听are encouraged to buy locally sourced ingredients for their own use and to adopt seasonal eating where possible,鈥� says Dr Thompson. 鈥淲e also suggest they recommend this to their future patients,听thereby engaging the public in sustainable healthy eating and well-being.鈥澨�

Before the workshop,听students complete self-directed online learning听to听introduce听the topic and encourage听them to reflect on and bring a primary care case to the workshop to discuss.听听

During听workshops, students receive an introduction to the relevant evidence-base, and lectures from a multidisciplinary team including a GP, dietician and chef, as well as hands-on cooking experience in a teaching kitchen.听听

They听also听review the evidence on inclusive and affordable ways to reduce the carbon footprint of听food听and听discuss听ways of implementing these changes, such as听reducing听intake of red meat and dairy听and shifting towards plant-based diets.听听