The Wellness Kitchen and Resource Center

Unlike most aspiring chefs set on making their mark in the restaurant industry, founder of The Wellness Kitchen Nancy Walker took a different culinary path. At Bauman College in Santa Cruz, Nancy laid the foundation for utilizing natural and holistic cooking methods as a means of treatment and healing. Since her graduation in August 2009, Nancy has developed a successful career by making sustainable healthy eat habits available to her patients. Today she specializes in cooking and developing meal plans for cancer, chemotherapy, diabetes, and other patients with other severe illnesses. The key to heathy cooking says Nancy, is “support and education reinforced by the community”. 

Her passion for healthy eating and good nutrition began with her family. “I lost my father to cancer. My mom has beat cancer twice and is a diabetic. Her mom lost her mother and sister to diabetes.  My mom is my hero; tackling everything with grace. I knew that I wanted to do something because I saw what she had done and continues to do in to her 70’s. It is my intention to help people realize that good health is nutrition, positive thinking and gathering supportive people around you.” 

Now as the Founder and Executive Director of The Wellness Kitchen and Resource Center just across the street from Twin Cities Hospital in Templeton, Nancy made nourishing eating habits available for all. Its mission: to provide healing foods to those in critical need along with education, resources and nourishing meals for individuals wanting to regain or sustain optimal health.

Since re-locating from the Manse on Marsh in San Luis Obispo to Templeton, The Wellness Kitchen and Resource Center has been able to become more involved with community events and fundraising, a critical element considering the Kitchen is sustained by donations.

Located in the heart North County’s medical community, an overwhelming appreciation for The Wellness Kitchen comes from the hospital staff, nurses and physicians. They’re trust in The Wellness Kitchen is reiterated by the many patient referrals. The proximity to the hospital and medical offices offers the patients, visitors and public at large the convenience of dine-in or take out for fresh items prepared daily; especially the soups and healing broths that are prepared in quart quantities. “We are the kitchen pharmacy of “clean” nutritious food for the patients being treated by nearby doctors and anyone who wants learn more about healthy cooking,” says Nancy.

The testimonials attests to the passion surrounding The Wellness Kitchen and Resource Center. The nutrient dense Rebuilding Bone Broth is filled with amino acids and minerals to build healthy bones, heart and muscles.  A young man suffering from terminal bone cancer has experienced renewed energy since taking the broth.  A family was kind enough to send a note to Nancy expressing their thanks for the nurturing soups, saying that at the end of his life, “Your soups brought him so much comfort.” Another patron benefitted from the Rebuilding Broth after 3 days of weakness following debilitating chemotherapy. With 3 sips of broth, she was stronger and by the time she finished the quart, her energy returned and felt whole again!

Wellness Foods can be pre-ordered weekly on Tuesday for pick-up on Thursday. The menu, available on www.TheWKRC.org  is designed for anyone in need of healthy convenient meals; specifically for those in cancer treatment and recovery or coping with diabetes, food allergies, heart disease and other chronic and acute illness. Meals are gluten and dairy free based on the freshest seasonal ingredients.

Education is the other component of the Kitchen’s mission. The classes/seminars are presented by Nancy Walker and Stephanie Austin of Wellness by Mother Nature. One class for example, “Therapeutic Nutrition and Cooking for Individuals with Cancer” is designed to educate cancer patients, caregivers and their support teams. Topics include portion sizes, the need for variety of foods, foods that are nutrient dense, weight loss and dehydration. 

The Food as Medicine series includes lectures and demonstrations that focus on specific body systems and health issues. Topics include inflammation, weight management, cardiovascular health, detoxification, kidney health, adrenal support, candida and controlling blood sugar with nutrition.

The 3-Way Cooking Series offers 3 nutrious ways to prepare a single food item; such as fennel, mushrooms, kale and asparagus.  The interactive Hands - On Cooking series involves instruction on the benefits of good nutrition, healthy choices, dairy-free alternatives and gluten substitutions. Topics include Knife Skills and Pantry Rehabilitation, Stocks and Soups, Grains, Beans & Greens, Poultry and Fish and Healthy Desserts and Snacks. Other course include “Making Sense of Nutrition”, and “The Science of Nutrition Made Simple and Tailoring Your Meals to your Taste Buds”.

Nancy often describes the soups as a “hug in a bowl” – warm, comforting, nourishing make with love and kindness. Others who have been touched say, “With deep appreciation for the sunshine you have brought into my life after the big storm.” “I cannot believe my good fortune to experience this magical, loving, amazing, beautiful, peaceful niche in this world.”  Nancy knows this to be true, “When I see how much love goes into this food prepared by the girls in the kitchen, I know that love is what people are feeling. We hope to reach those facing cancer and other acute and chronic illness with the message that “you’re not alone.” For a closer look at “The Kitchen,” visit www.TheWKRC.org anytime and stop in on weekdays.

Millie Drum - local writer