Food as Medicine at the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County is a free, community-based education series presenting evidence-based nutrition and food information. Professional nutritionists, consultants, and dietitians share scientific findings, prepared recipe tastings and practical food preparation tips and tricks. Food as Medicine sessions highlight healthful properties of food that are less commonly discussed in mainstream media platforms. We focus on the unique benefits found in fresh fruits and vegetables and the role they have in healing the body or maintaining health.
Food as Medicine Recordings
Check out our Food As Medicine Video Playlist here!
The podcast series, Food as Medicine: A Podcast for a Healthier You, is also available for free on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, and Spotify.
You can also opt-in to receiving invitations to our upcoming events here.
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Informational Packets
Learn about how to maximize the nutritious benefits you receive from common vegetables and why certain vegetables have special, super health boosting properties. Delicious, nutritionist-approved recipes included!
Learn about the importance of maintaining healthy digestion and easy changes to make to your diet to help you do so. Delicious, nutritionist-approved recipes included!
See the articles below for a curated collection of nutrition news, recipes, and information to help you navigate healthful eating.
RECIPES
Original Recipes Used in Foodbank Programs!
Food Substitutions
Don’t want to make trip to the grocery store for one ingredient? Great – its probably not a good idea right now anyway. Fortunately, there are many easy, healthy food substitutions that are a great way to add more nutrients to your food, while limiting your trips to the store. Here are a few healthy […]
Green Peanut Butter Smoothie
Skill Level: Easy Prep Time: 5 min Serves: 2 Smoothies can be a healthy way to start your day, but when eating breakfast you want to consume something that will give you long lasting energy. While fruit contains lots of important vitamins and nutrients, smoothies made of only fruit can leave you feeling hungry. Fruit […]
Thai Peanut Sauce
Skill Level: Intermediate Prep Time: 5 min Cook Time: 5 min Add to noodles, veggies, chicken or tofu! Adapted from: https://www.recipetineats.com/thai-chicken-satay-peanut-sauce/ Ingredients: 3/4 cup PEANUT BUTTER 2 tbs RED CURRY PASTE 3/4 can COCONUT MILK 2 tbs HONEY 2 tsp SOY SAUCE 1 tsp SALT 2 tbs APPLE CIDER VINEGAR 3/4 cup […]
West African Peanut Stew
We tend to think of peanut butter as a classic American snack food, but it’s not just a snack; it’s an international staple! Peanut butter is a great source of plant-based protein, unsaturated fat and complex carbohydrate fiber, which makes it a great a snack and fantastic base for a meal to nourish […]
No-bake Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Energy Balls
Skill Level: Kid Friendly Prep Time: 15 min Makes : 12 We love peanut butter because it’s filling and energy-dense. It’s a great source of plant-based protein, unsaturated fat and complex carbohydrate fiber. These are the optimal kinds of protein, fat and fiber. These no-bake peanut butter and oatmeal energy balls are the […]
Food as Medicine: An Easy-to-Digest Podcast for a healthier you.
If you missed our Food as Medicine Lesson on cruciferous vegetables, have no fear! We have turned the information into a bite-sized podcast, so you can learn about making nutritious choices wherever you are. Feel free to download and distribute to your friends! About the Food as Medicine Program: Food as Medicine at the Foodbank […]
Vibeke’s Simple Arugula Salad (that her kids love)
This recipe comes from Vibeke Weiland, the chair of our board and also a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner practicing at Santa Barbara Wellness for Life in Santa Barbara. This is a simple recipe that she and her kids love! With its simple ingredients and little-assembly-required technique, it’s the perfect way to add kid-friendly cruciferous veggies […]
Irina’s Sweet & Sticky Brussels Sprouts
Back to Crucifers! We just can’t get enough of them. They’re so important for a healthy diet, AND extremely tasty and versatile. Check back for a new recipe each week! Irina’s Sweet & Sticky Brussels Sprouts Ingredients: • 2 pounds cleaned Brussels sprouts, cut in half • Olive oil or avocado oil • salt to […]
Food as Medicine: Cruciferous Veggies
What’s a crucifer?! It’s not as scary as it sounds, we promise. A crucifer is simply the name of a category of plants that have 4 leaves in an “X” shape. While they’re fairly common vegetables, like broccoli, kale, and brussels sprouts, most people have no idea of the enormous health benefits that these veggies […]
Easy Ways to Incorporate More Fruits and Vegetables Into Your Diet
We all know that eating fruits and vegetables is healthy, but sometimes we end up thinking of it as a chore and it can become unappealing. But it doesn’t have to be! Although it can be daunting to try and tackle cooking a food that you’ve never eaten before, such as kale or Japanese sweet […]
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FITNESS
Tips for Healthy Physical Activities
Why Is It So Hard to Exercise?
Why Is It So Hard to Exercise? Get fit! Here are 5 steps to get you motivated to move. WebMD Feature By Linda Wasmer Andrews Reviewed By Roy Benaroch, MD You know you should do it. And you know why: Exercising — simply put, moving instead of sitting — is critical for safeguarding your health and setting a […]
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NUTRITION TIPS & NEWS
Good nutrition is all about making good choices.
The Foodbank Responds to Senior Need
Martha Kalhoun, 85, and her brother Warren Anderson, 91, are examples of local seniors who look to the Foodbank to fill the gap. The siblings live in a low-income senior apartment complex at Vandenberg Village in Lompoc where rent typically ranges from $1,800 to $2,000 per month. Luckily, the two seniors qualify for subsidized housing, and […]
The Wonder of Peanut Butter
We’re kicking off the New Year by collecting a precious resource: peanut butter! Well actually, all nut butters! It’s an item that’s in demand from all members of the community we serve, from kids to seniors and everyone in between. We love peanut butter because it’s filling, and when it doesn’t contain added sugar or […]
Using Food Prep to Make Healthier Choices
I was talking to my dad about some barriers that are faced when it comes to eating healthy. We have access to an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains, and legumes all packed with health-promoting nutrients and yet we opt for microwaveable meals and packaged foods. Making our own food is the best […]
Food as Medicine: An Easy-to-Digest Podcast for a healthier you.
If you missed our Food as Medicine Lesson on cruciferous vegetables, have no fear! We have turned the information into a bite-sized podcast, so you can learn about making nutritious choices wherever you are. Feel free to download and distribute to your friends! About the Food as Medicine Program: Food as Medicine at the Foodbank […]
The Power of Nose-to-Tail Eating
Meat is a great source of protein, but can also be very expensive. However, there are incredibly healthful ways of eating meat that don’t have to break budget, and that are more environmentally friendly than the most common options. By eating organ meats, we are ingesting a wider variety of nutrients and adding a variety […]
Irina’s Sweet & Sticky Brussels Sprouts
Back to Crucifers! We just can’t get enough of them. They’re so important for a healthy diet, AND extremely tasty and versatile. Check back for a new recipe each week! Irina’s Sweet & Sticky Brussels Sprouts Ingredients: • 2 pounds cleaned Brussels sprouts, cut in half • Olive oil or avocado oil • salt to […]
Santa Barbara School District First In US To Axe Processed Meat
School lunches will be free of carcinogens such as hot dogs, bacon, and pepperoni The Santa Barbara Unified School District (SBUSD) is the first known school district in the US to remove processed meats from its lunch menus. Read full article here. […]
Food as Medicine: Cruciferous Veggies
What’s a crucifer?! It’s not as scary as it sounds, we promise. A crucifer is simply the name of a category of plants that have 4 leaves in an “X” shape. While they’re fairly common vegetables, like broccoli, kale, and brussels sprouts, most people have no idea of the enormous health benefits that these veggies […]
Easy Ways to Incorporate More Fruits and Vegetables Into Your Diet
We all know that eating fruits and vegetables is healthy, but sometimes we end up thinking of it as a chore and it can become unappealing. But it doesn’t have to be! Although it can be daunting to try and tackle cooking a food that you’ve never eaten before, such as kale or Japanese sweet […]
Pears Pears are tasty fall fruit in Santa Barbara County, but did you know they are also a great source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals? They are packed with vitamins C and K, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, and folate. Pears also contain phytonutrients that protect against certain diseases and cancers. For a quick, tasty treat, […]
