Founding the Dr. Yum Project: From Virginia Roots to the National Stage
Photo Credit: Laura Visioni Phography
In 2008 Dr. Nimali Fernando also known as Dr. Yum moved to Fredericksburg, Virginia from Texas to join a private pediatric practice in the area. As a pediatrician, Dr. Yum noticed that kids were not eating a balanced diet. She realized that children were at a higher rate of obesity leading to digestive issues. After asking these children what they were eating, with most of the answers being fast food, she realized that she needed to come up with a solution to make healthy food fun for kids.
During this time, she realized that she was trying to teach her own children how to eat healthier. Using family recipes, she launched a website called Dr. Yum in 2011.
During her time with patients during consultations or follow ups she was limited in time to educate her patients, so she introduced them to her website to educate the entire household on healthy eating habits.
Fast forward to 2023, and Dr. Yum is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that teaches kids how to cook and how to make their food nutritionally balanced. Utilizing the local produce of her neighborhood they made international dishes that were balanced, healthy, and most importantly for those picky eaters, delicious!
This year they are celebrating 10 years of creating different programs in overcoming barriers to unhealthy eating habits.
What are these barriers?
These barriers can look like food insecurity, lack of basic cooking skills, the misconception that eating healthy is expensive.
Dr. Yum also allows physicians to have a resource to show their patients a different way to share nutritional information.
In 2013 Dr. Yum left private practice and started her own practice. With a unique twist! When you go to Dr. Yum for a doctor’s visit, not only will you see her office surrounded by gardens, but you will also see a community kitchen, where the Dr. Yum projects are conducted. Everything from cooking classes and educational presentations.
Their state-of-the-art website allows you to input the ingredients in your refrigerator and it customized a recipe for you. They have a meal planner to assist you with meal prep. It makes cooking a very undaunting task and fun for the whole family. The website is full of resources for every member of the family.
Some of their partners include the National Head Start Association and Partnership for a Healthier America, a non-profit whose honorary chair is Michelle Obama. Dr. Yum now travels around the country presenting at different conferences about how to teach healthy eating to children and families.
The Dr. Yum Project can be found in 29 states and 5 countries focusing on their core programs.
Core Programs and Projects
-Dr. Yums Preschool Food Adventure (an evidence-based interactive curriculum)
-Raising a Healthy Happy Eater: A Parent’s Handbook
-Dr. Yum’s Food Adventure: Home Edition
-Physician Partner Program
Food doesn’t have to be intimidating. With the accessibility of fast food, it’s easy to go through a drive-through. However, this organization goes back to the roots of home cooking. Cooking is more than just making dinner, it’s a family bonding experience.
For different ways to Help Dr. Yum celebrate their 10-year anniversary you can visit their website www.doctoryum.org.
