Pennsylvania

Drexel University Students Cook Up Recipes for Cancer Patients

Philadelphia culinary students are rolling up their sleeves in a new partnership with nonprofit Cook for Your Life, in hopes of teaching and promoting healthy cooking to local cancer patients and survivors.

Inside Drexel University’s food lab, young chefs are fine-tuning recipes specifically devised for patients undergoing different stages of cancer treatment at the AstraZeneca Hope Lodge in Cheltenham, Pennsylvania.

“It’s pretty easy to follow a recipe and make something good,” said Jonathan Deutsch, Drexel culinary arts professor. “It’s harder to problem solve and apply that knowledge.”

The student chefs are using their creativity to come up with healthy and low-fat alternatives to comfort foods, and then teach their recipes at the Hope Lodge.

“It’s good, it’s a lot fun and we’re really happy to help,” said Ally Zeitz, student food lab manager.

Zeitz even uses her love of Greek yogurt as a nutritional substitute when preparing tasty food staples like fettuccine Alfredo and strawberry shortcake.

The student-made recipes are also intended for patients who are on bland diets, have trouble swallowing or need to increase their caloric intake.

While this program already exists in other cities, Deutsch hopes other culinary arts schools in the area team up with the nonprofit.

“Our goal right now is to see if we can expand this,” Deutsch said.

For Cook for Your Life recipes, visit Drexel’s food lab website.

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