Food as Medicine Everyday (FAME) Program

Cook simple, tasty, and nutritious meals for your family with Saint Luke’s evidence-based nutrition education.

Change Your Nutrition, Change Your Life

Food is powerful medicine. When used with a comprehensive health care plan, healthy dietary changes can have a positive and dramatic effect on the prevention and management of many chronic health conditions.

FAME Guiding Principles

Food As Medicine Everyday (FAME) education programs are offered through Saint Luke’s Muriel I. Kauffman Women’s Heart Center, which is a founding member of the Food As Medicine Institute Alliance.

The FAME program is built on six guiding principles:

  1. Choose whole foods and low-processed foods.
    1. Whole foods are foods that are not highly processed or altered, such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, beans, wild fish, grass-fed beef, and eggs
    2. Highly processed foods lack essential nutrients and fiber, causing deficiencies and chronic diseases
  2. Develop a diverse, primarily plant-based diet.
    1. Plants such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, legumes, and whole grains are nutrient-dense, fiber rich, and full of antioxidants that help reduce inflammation in the body
  3. Include foods made from healthy animals.
    1. Animals raised in their natural environment produce food that is more nutrient dense and less inflammatory
    2. Choose grass-fed, organically raised meats over conventionally raised meats when available
  4. Choose anti-inflammatory foods.
    1. A personal diet high in added sugar and highly processed foods leads to inflammation
    2. Inflammation can lead to the development of chronic diseases, such as heart disease and Type 2 diabetes
  5. Understand individuals have unique food needs.
    1. No one “diet” is right for everyone
    2. Health history, lifestyle, and food sensitivities can all dictate unique individual food needs
    3. Choose foods that make you feel energized
  6. Care about food and food production.
    1. Your food choices can either nourish you or increase your risk for disease
    2. Understand where your food comes from and how the food is produced
    3. Quality grown foods lead to quality health

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Location

Saint Luke’s Muriel I. Kauffman Women's Heart Center
4401 Wornall Rd
Kansas City, MO 64111
Phone: 816-932-5784

Food As Medicine Feedback

Leave comments on our classes, tips for healthy eating, or send in your own healthy recipes.

Photos

Testimonials

“I think the program was excellent, very balanced and covered a whole range of nutrition topics. I learned a lot. The recipes are easy to prepare and the ingredients are affordable. FAME was great!”


“I’m so happy that I took the FAME class! I was always intimidated by cooking, especially with spices and ingredients that I had never used before. After taking this class, I'm not afraid anymore! Grace did a wonderful job teaching the class the basics of healthy eating; how to prepare delicious, quick-prep dishes; and offered lots of ways to vary the recipes. She also taught us how to prepare all of the ingredients first and then how to safely cut and dice food items with a sharp knife. I really needed these lessons! I learned so much in this class that it's impossible to list all the benefits I gained in the 10-week class. Thank you very much for helping me learn how to shop for and prepare healthy and delicious food!"


“I loved the classes and loved branching out to new recipes and food items I have never tried before. It was a lot of fun!” 

News

Nov. 6, 2023

Teaching Medical Students How Diet Affects Health

Saint Luke's Food As Medicine Everyday (FAME) program has now extended its program to teach medical students from University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine about nutrition and the effects of nutrition on health.
Aug. 25, 2023

FOX4: FAME: Healthy Back-to-School Lunch Ideas for Kids and Adults

Grace Hoffman, Nutritional Coordinator with Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute and the Food As Medicine Everyday (FAME) program, shares healthy lunch options for kids and adults as school kicks off with the FOX4 morning show.
Jul. 18, 2023

FOX4: FAME: Make Your Own Fruit Popsicles

Grace Hoffman, Nutritional Coordinator with Saint Luke's Food As Medicine Everyday (FAME) program, shares a fun summer recipe with the FOX4 morning show.
Feb. 23, 2023

FOX4: FAME: Pineapple-Tofu Sheet Pan Meal with Walnuts

Grace Hoffman, Nutritional Coordinator with Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute and the Food As Medicine Everyday (FAME) program, shares a heart healthy recipe with the FOX4 morning show.
Sep. 14, 2022

FOX4: FAME: Sweet Potato Muffins

Grace Hoffman, Nutritional Coordinator with Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute and the Food As Medicine Everyday (FAME) program, shares a healthy fall muffin recipe with the FOX4 morning show.
Nov. 21, 2022

KSHB: Serving Up Savings: How to Stretch the Dollar for Thanksgiving

KSHB talked to Grace Hoffman to get tips on how to save at the store and not waste food this Thanksgiving.
Sep. 27, 2022

KSHB: Kansas City Families Shift Shopping Habits Due to Rising Food Costs

KSHB talked to Grace Hoffman with Saint Luke's Food As Medicine Everyday (FAME) program about how to reduce food costs while staying healthy.
Sep. 14, 2022

FOX4: FAME: Sweet Potato Muffins

Grace Hoffman, Nutritional Coordinator with Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute and the Food As Medicine Everyday (FAME) program, shares a healthy fall muffin recipe with the FOX4 morning show.
Aug. 11, 2021

FOX4: FAME: Asian cucumber salad

Lucas Schubert shares a healthy recipe for six servings of an Asian-inspired cucumber salad with FOX4.
Jun. 29, 2021

FOX4: Sweet Potato and Black Bean Burger and Cornerstones of FAME for Cancer Series

Lucas Schubert, Nutritional Coordinator with Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute and the Food As Medicine Everyday (FAME) program, shares a delicious plant based burger alternative with the FOX4 morning show.
May. 27, 2021

FOX4: FAME: Avocado Deviled Eggs

Lucas Schubert, Nutritional Coordinator with Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute and the Food As Medicine Everyday (FAME) program, shares a healthy avocado deviled egg recipe that is sure to satisfy with FOX4. 
Apr. 9, 2021

Tunavo Wrap

A heart-healthy recipe created by Lucas, nutritionist with Saint Luke’s Food As Medicine Everyday Program.
Apr. 16, 2021

Kale Chips

Try making your own kale chips with this easy recipe from Saint Luke’s Food As Medicine Everyday (FAME) Program.
Apr. 2, 2021

Garlic Parmesan Green Beans

A heart-healthy recipe from Saint Luke's Food As Medicin Everyday Program
Mar. 19, 2021

Vegetable Soup

A great heart-healthy recipe for a chilly day from Saint Luke's Food As Medicine Everyday Program.
Mar. 5, 2021

Sourdough Croutons

A heart-healthy recipe provided by Food As Medicine Everyday Program offered through Saint Luke’s Muriel I. Kauffman Women’s Heart Center.