Nearly 100 New Food for Life Instructors Trained to Teach Plant-Based Nutrition in 2024

“I now have a library of knowledge and insight into plant-based eating, an amazing support team that is available to help me succeed, a network of like-minded people who are trying to make a difference in the world, and an energy and excitement to get out there and grow my own business while helping people along the way,” says Rhonda Kivlin, from Boston, Mass.

The new instructors speak 11 languages among them and are from locations including Bhutan, Canada, South Africa, the United States, and the UK. Seven of the instructors speak Spanish, helping the Food for Life program grow its presence in Hispanic communities with new Spanish-language versions of Food for Life curricula and courses.

Fourteen of the instructors were also scholarship recipients who demonstrated both a financial need and who intend to deliver Food for Life classes to populations most impacted by health disparities, including Black, Latino, and Native American communities.

The comprehensive and evidence-based eight-week online training program prepares instructors to teach classes from the 20 Food for Life curricula designed by physicians, nurses, and dietitians. Following this fall’s training, several of the new instructors shared why the Food for Life training was so valuable to them and how it will help them help their communities stay healthy.

“Taking the Food for Life course was an absolutely transformative experience,” says Zana Scott, from St. Louis, Mo., who praised the Food for Life training staff for their knowledge and for creating a supportive, encouraging environment. “The information provided was ‘just what I needed’—each session was packed with eye-opening insights and practical tips that equipped me with the tools needed to successfully begin teaching Food for Life classes. I can’t recommend this program enough—it’s truly been life-changing!”

“The Food for Life instructor training is fantastic,” adds Jill Hughes, from Charleston, S.C. “As an individual with a passion for preventing disease and suffering, I now feel fully armed to spread the message in a concise, entertaining, and informative manner.”

In addition to individuals, the Food for Life program also trains institutions, including Adventist Health Mendocino Coast in Fort Bragg, Calif., to teach Food for Life classes.

“Enrolling in the Food for Life training was the right decision for my hospital,” says institutional training graduate Safari Dushime of Adventist Health Mendocino Coast. “We care for our patients and always want to offer more help and guidance on nutrition and lifestyle to improve their health. The Food for Life training gave us the tools to make this vision a reality, and it couldn’t get any more practical than this. Our patients love these classes—they come excited about the new recipes, which are not only healthy but also delicious! As they leave each class, they, in turn, become agents of change in their homes and our community at large.”

Earlier this year, 49 instructors completed the spring training, bringing the total number of instructors trained in 2024 to 97! The Food for Life program now has 483 instructors and institutions in 32 countries and in 48 U.S. states, plus the District of Columbia. Food for Life is an award-winning nutrition education and cooking class program that provides an innovative approach to diet-related chronic diseases. Since 2001, Food for Life has been a pioneer in delivering hands-on information about the direct role of plant-based nutrition in health and disease prevention to communities around the world.

If you are interested in sharing the power of plants for disease prevention, Food for Life is now accepting applications for the 2025 online training, taking place from April 29 to June 24, 2025. Completed applications are due on Friday, Feb. 7.

To learn more about the Food for Life program and to find a class near you, visit PCRM.org/FFL.