Food for Life Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month With Plant-Based Nutrition and Cooking Classes from Massachusetts to Mexico

From Massachusetts to Mexico and beyond, the Physicians Committee’s Food for Life plant-based nutrition and cooking class program is celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month (Mes de la Hispanidad), Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, with classes that honor the rich tapestry of Latin American flavors and traditions and help fight diseases including type 2 diabetes and obesity that disproportionately impact Hispanics.

The Food for Life program increased its reach to Hispanic participants by 49% in 2023, compared with 2022, and has continued to grow in 2024, with Spanish-language curricula that now include Iniciativa diabetes (Diabetes Initiative), Proyecto contra el cancer (Introduction to Cancer), Activa tu salud (Kickstart your Health), and Programa de bienestar para empleados (Employee Wellness Program).

Sisters and Food for Life Instructors Ginny Martínez de Anzures and Rosana Martinez Valdez, who are currently teaching a class series, grew up in Mexico, where their father and grandfather were cattle ranchers.

“We believed that eating meat, eggs, and dairy was a privilege,” says Rosana. “But the reality is that our family members got sick with cancer, digestive problems, arthritis, and lupus.”

More than a decade ago, Ginny was diagnosed with ovarian cancer; soon after, Rosana was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. They both received treatment, but Ginny wanted to understand what contributed to their cancers and their family’s health problems. She began researching and soon learned about the health risks of animal products and the power of plant-based nutrition and its impact on health and well-being. Today, the sisters are both cancer survivors.

“Witnessing the transformative effects of nutrition firsthand, I became passionate about studying and sharing this knowledge with others,” says Ginny, who teaches online and in-person classes in Mexico with Rosana. “I am deeply committed to extending my expertise and support to communities in need.”

In Mexico, heart disease and diabetes are the leading causes of death, and the sisters blame the influx of fast food and ultra-processed food, adding that children are getting really sick, too.

For several years, they have taught classes in rural communities, where they see the greatest need, including to students, teachers, and parents at a school in Santa María Actipan in Central Mexico.

“They taught us about the risk of eating meat and dairy,” said one student who attended a class, while another added, “We learned how to eat healthy without spending too much.”

In addition to classes, Food for Life instructors are hosting a series of Facebook live cooking demonstrations in both Spanish and English throughout the month.

• Thursday, Sept. 19, at 5 p.m. ET. Join Food for Life instructor Aifra Ruiz, of New York, N.Y., for a cooking demonstration of Tayota, Carrot, and Potato Salad in Spanish, from her native Dominican Republic. Comité De Médicos Facebook.
• Thursday, Sept. 26, at 4 p.m. ET. Join Food for Life instructor Elizabeth Garcia, of Yakima, Wash., for a cooking demonstration of Red Pozole in English, from her native Mexico. Physicians Committee Facebook.
• Thursday, Oct. 3, at 4 p.m. ET. Join Food for Life instructor Laura Rodriguez, of Monterrey, Mexico, for a cooking demonstration of Chipotle Enfrijoladas in English, from her native Mexico. Physicians Committee Facebook.
• Thursday, Oct. 10, at 4 p.m. ET. Join Food for Life instructor Maria Fernanda Hubeaut, of Kingston, N.Y., for a cooking demonstration of Chimichurri in Spanish, from her native Argentina. Comité De Médicos Facebook.