Plow-To-Plate Event Emphasizes

Health Benefits Of Raw Foods

NEW MILFORD — New Milford Hospital will host its second program in a series at The Silo/Hunt Hill Farm Trust, 44 Upland Road, to feature healthy, locally grown foods in Litchfield and Dutchess Counties.

The educational cooking demonstration will be held August 4 from 11 am to 2 pm as part of the hospital’s Plow-to-Plate initiative designed to help the consumers embrace better, healthier ways to eat, and encourage institutions and restaurants to use locally and regionally grown foods.

Presenters Megan Haney of Marble Valley Farm, Kent, Executive Chef Carol Byer-Alcorace of New Morning Organic Foods, Woodbury, and Caitlin Nass, APRN, an advance practice cardiovascular nurse at the hospital, will facilitate a meal using minimally processed raw foods, including marinated kale and golden beet salad, Amuse Bouche (fruit and vegetable bites), white gazpacho and green tomato soup, an entrée of chilled vegetable napoleon with basil pistachio pesto, and a drink of vegetable and herb juice, as well as silken tofu pudding with fruit jewels for dessert. To register, contact The Silo at 860-355-0300 or visit www.hunthillfarmtrust.org.

Launched in June, Plow-to-Plate is believed to be a first for the health care industry.  The hospital formed a community coalition of physicians, farmers, chefs, restaurateurs, community leaders, land preservationists, and state and local government officials to sponsor public education and to support the hospital’s commitment to transforming its own food service to one that provides wholesome food that is locally and regionally produced, whenever possible.

Plow-to-Plate took root when this diverse group began to share their ideas about addressing the escalating obesity and diabetes rates among children. The group quickly attracted others and formalized itself as the Plow-to-Plate Community Coalition, with New Milford Hospital providing leadership and organizational support for its public education and advocacy efforts.

The hospital’s guidance in this grassroots initiative complements its decisive action to provide clinical programs to prevent disease. Led by President and CEO Joseph P. Frolkis, MD, PhD, a nationally recognized expert in cardiovascular disease prevention, the hospital offers a multidisciplinary program to help patients reduce their risk factors for heart disease, diabetes and obesity-related illness.

Beyond the cooking class series at The Silo this summer, the Plow-to-Plate coalition’s multiyear public education will continue next year with a focus on children, and the following year on senior adults.  The coalition also plans to host documentary films and speakers on the topics such as school food, food allergies, and farm preservation.