Understanding and navigating the complexities of food and nutritional support for patients can be overwhelming, which is why Thomas Cuisine has partnered with a Mountain West cancer institute to help support cancer patients along their treatment journey.
To expand on this exciting new partnership and community focus, Thomas Cuisine President and CEO Alison Patt sat down with Gemma Gaudette, host of the award-winning show, Idaho Matters. In the podcast, Alison shares that in the summer of 2023, they officially launched their first teaching kitchen at Benefis Hospital in Great Falls, Montana.
Alison shares, “We have partnered with Benefis for a long time, and we were just delighted when they brought to the table this concept of creating a kitchen space within their cancer institute where we can actually activate and execute a program that brings together food and healing for cancer patients.”
According to the Cancer Treatment Center of America, 80 percent of cancer patients suffer from malnutrition during their treatment. To help address this universal problem for patients, Thomas Cuisine’s team of registered dietitians and chefs provide structured in-person classes tailored to support cancer patients with the biggest nutritional challenges they’ll face during and after treatment.
After they learn and prepare the food, the patients get to sit down and enjoy the food at a family dinner. Many also take what they learn home to share with their families. Alison explains this last element “really brings that joy in addition with the healing portion of the journey.”
When asked about the goals of the program, she outlines the main objective is to bring attention to lifestyle medicine of healing, not only for cancer patients but for everyone. Alison also explains it’s an opportunity to build out a sustainable model to share with other Thomas Cuisine clients interested in teaching kitchens. It’s also a way to honor founder Thad Thomas and his vision of REAL food for nourishing and healing the body.
“Our founder had a transformative journey himself in terms of food as part of the healing journey, so we as a company really took that to heart,” explains Alison. “We believe that food can be delicious, but also really healthy, and actually fuel the body and enhance health.”
At this pivotal point of his health, Thad guided the company toward REAL food, resulting in a vast collective of professional health and wellness teams who advocate the power of wholesome food. Thomas Cuisine team members believe it’s their privilege and responsibility to share the positive impact of REAL food with the world. Educational classes to empower health within communities through teaching kitchens is one step in that journey.
Alison shares, “We have 1400 team members who are personally committed that food can transform your life. Many of us have our own personal stories. As a company, we wish to be aligned with the right kinds of partners; to be able to bring to the table something that matters; to be able to come together and have community; to believe that food can really power, heal, and connect you. That’s our goal, to bring that power of food to the table and hope that someone is inspired to take that home. It’s one meal at a time. For us, we serve 22 million meals each year, and that’s an opportunity to change a life each day.”
