Monmouth Medical Center’s LiveWell Center Kicks Off New ‘Cooking with Clinicians’ Nutrition Series

CAPTION: MMC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kenneth Granet is shown in the LiveWell Center's WEforum Demonstration Kitchen with the center's registered dietitian Jennifer Klein.

Long Branch, NJ, September 19, 2024 - Monmouth Medical Center 'sLiveWell Center kicked off its new "Cooking with Clinicians" series on September 13th with a cooking demonstration by Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ken Granet.

A full house was joined by more than 30 Zoom participants who watched Dr. Granet team with LiveWell Center dietitian Jenn Klein, MS, RDN, to create a healthy summer's end salad with roasted sweet potatoes. The series will continue on October 23rd when MMC Medical Director of Breast Surgery Dr. Manpreet Kohli dons the LiveWell Center apron.

MMC's LiveWell Center at the Anne Vogel Family Care and Wellness Center in Eatontown is a hub for all things wellness for community members of any age. Celebrating its second anniversary this year, the LiveWell Center has had nearly 12,500 community members come to the center for programs since opening in May 2022, and has served more than 92,000 individuals when including virtual programs and those reached via social media. In addition to New Jersey, the center has had participants join from New York, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Pennsylvania, representing nearly 100 municipalities.

With an emphasis on education, the LiveWell Center offers free workshops on nutrition, chronic diseases (e.g. heart disease, cancer, overweight/obesity, diabetes), childbirth and postpartum, and mental health. Run by a Registered Dietitian, the Center's Dorothea and Jon Bon Jovi Nutrition Education Programming in the innovative WEforum Demonstration Kitchen is dedicated to supporting the community members in their healthy eating journey. Programs include Baby's First Foods, Kids Snack Time and Cooking, Nutrition for Teens and Adult Cooking Demonstrations and Cook-alongs. Health education programs, support groups, and gentle movement classes run in classroom style spaces, with most programs offered on a hybrid basis, allowing individuals to attend in-person or virtually.

"Our programs focus on preventing chronic diseases and helping those with a diagnosis make behavior changes that can help them live a healthier life," says Abby Thompson, MPH, CHES, Regional Director, Community Health and Social Impact & Community Investment. "Delivered by clinical experts and health educators, our health and nutrition programs focus on education and skill building. Programs are data-driven and tailored to meet the needs of individuals at every age and stage of life. We also place a focus on reaching underserved and vulnerable populations. We strive to connect community members to needed healthcare services in their community, and work beyond the walls of this center and our hospital to be embed ourselves in the communities we serve."

Additionally, a variety of support groups are offered including those for caregiver, bereavement, tobacco and nicotine recovery cessation, stroke, oncology, breastfeeding, and nutrition support. Programs are free and open to all members of the community, with no insurance required.

For a complete listing of all monthly programs at the LiveWell Center, visit rwjbh.org/mmccalendar.

CONTACT:
Kathy Horan
732-546-6317
[email protected]