Learn about the 'healing powers' of Hispanic food

The UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company will hold a community health and wellness event in Los Angeles on Saturday, September 28, 2024, to promote healthy living for Latinos over the age of 60, as well as Medicare beneficiaries.

During the event, attendees will learn about the nutritional and health benefits of some traditional Hispanic foods, as well as participate in a live cooking demonstration and learn practical advice for eating healthy.

In addition, they will participate in interactive and educational sessions covering the basics of Medicare, including eligibility requirements and enrollment windows, to help them make the best-informed healthcare coverage decisions. 

The Healing Power of Hispanic Food event will feature expert voices such as nutritionist Sylvia Meléndez Klinger, who will share insights on the healing properties of popular Hispanic foods and the importance of nutrition in preventing and managing chronic illness in the Latino community.

“I'm excited about this event because it's something that we work really hard for to bring these messages and this communication about nutrition and health to the communities that we are serving and the communities that we live in,” Meléndez said.

As the founder of Hispanic Food Communications, Meléndez leverages her expertise in cross-cultural Hispanic nutrition and health to promote wellness worldwide. She said that there are many reasons why Latinos are most likely to develop chronic illnesses.

 “I wish it was one single thing, but it's many things, one of them that I think is very pivotal is the portion sizes that we serve at our homes if they are very large. I mean, we have great food, the foundation, it's there,” she said. For her, individuals must find a balance in food when cooking traditional home dishes.

In order for Latinos to better implement better eating habits, Meléndez said that it’s important that people fall in love with healthy foods and have plates that are fuller in high nutrition and nutritional value.

 “So more than anything, your plate should be vegetables and fruits because those antioxidants prevent those chronic diseases that we have in our population,” she said. “Like diabetes, heart disease and obesity, those fruits really are gonna be the ones to create new cells in our body to keep us healthy and keep those chronic diseases from hitting us.”

Meléndez also mentioned that it’s important to remember that at the end of the day we are all human beings and that it's OK once in a while to have a cookie or even a slice of cake as long as people are mindful and eat nutritious foods for most meals. 

Los Angeles chef, Nicole Lee, will lead the cooking demonstration, illustrating how to incorporate food as medicine into daily life, leaving attendees with actionable tips and techniques. Nicole Lee is an entrepreneur who was previously featured on the Food Network’s “Supermarket Stakeout.” For Nicole, food is more than just sustenance, it’s a vehicle for well-being, self-care, storytelling, creating memories and fostering connections.

UnitedHealthcare’s Dana Parra-Stanglmaier will also be at the event facilitating the Medicare education portion. As a Mexican native, she works passionately to help Latinos gain a clearer understanding of Medicare and how to take control of their healthcare through the power of education.

For Parra-Stanglmaier, Medicare is crucial because she believes that when an individual reaches the age to be eligible to apply, they need to be informed of all their healthcare options. “At United Healthcare, we strive to educate our communities on the options that they may have,” she said. “And the way we do it, we bring programs like this one to make them feel important in our communities. Those events are free and uplifting and full of information to be educated about their options for Medicare. But also we bring programs that are exciting and engaging so they are informed.”

She also believes that one of the most common barriers that Latinos face when it comes to applying for Medicare is simply not being informed about their options. “So as you know, knowledge is power and when they are informed, they can make better healthcare decisions,” Parra-Stanglmaier said.

The two in-person events will be held on Saturday, September 28, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., at The Colony Theatre, 555 N. Third St., Burbank, CA 91502. 

Registration will begin 30 minutes before the start of each event. Complimentary parking is available at the adjacent Burbank Town Center.