Healthy World Flavors

If there is bad news in the diet and health arena—alarmingly high rates of chronic diseases and related health problems and, at least in part as a result, skyrocketing, unsustainable health care costs—there is also some good news. Increasingly, Americans are seeking out the big, bold, bright flavors of a wider range of cultures from the Mediterranean to Asia and Latin America. Many of these cuisines that are growing in popularity in the United States represent a rich, delicious source of inspiration for cooking with vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, vegetable oils and other healthy foods from plant sources—all foods that should be more emphasized in our diets.

This accelerating interest on the part of Americans in "culinary adventure" and acceptance of new flavors gives healthcare and foodservice professionals a wider range of options to create foods for individuals that are at once healthy and satisfying. We will explore many of these "new American flavors" in our conference, and their potential to convince skeptical food lovers—meaning much of America!—that a healthy meal can also be a feast for the senses.

An expanded world view of culinary options for addressing diet and health concerns will also facilitate conference discussions about diet, public health initiatives, and ethnicity.