The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Culinary Medicine program participated in the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute’s Be a Part of the Cure event on Saturday, April 30 at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. The Be a Part of the Cure Walk aims to raise awareness in the community about cancer and to provide the participants with education on cancer prevention, screening, and therapeutic services available throughout Arkansas. Culinary Medicine registered dietitians Alyssa Frisby and Melissa Fenton created a healthy hydration display to show participants how much sugar is in common beverages. Bottled beverages were lined on the table and a portion cup of measured sugar was placed in front of each bottle. Each portion cup contained the amount of sugar found in each beverage.
Event participants were surprised to see how much sugar these familiar beverages contained. Many took pictures to share with family and friends. The dietitians discussed the sugary beverages with participants and explained the importance of reading nutrition labels to determine how many grams of sugar their beverages contain, as well as what the serving size of each beverage is. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025 advise that Americans aged two years and older limit added sugars in the diet to less than 10% of total calories. The American Heart Association recommends no more than six teaspoons (24 grams) of added sugar for most adult women, and no more than nine teaspoons (36 grams) of added sugar for most men per day. The dietitians discussed ways to flavor water without adding sugar, and recommended opting for beverages that do not contain added sugars when trying to stay hydrated. The Culinary Medicine registered dietitians also promoted free on-campus teaching kitchen sessions and invited UAMS-employed participants to register using a special QR code. Community participants who are not affiliated with UAMS were invited to register for the free Zoom cooking sessions offered by Culinary Medicine. Teaching kitchen and Zoom cooking sessions are led by Culinary Medicine registered dietitians and offer participants the opportunity to learn basic cooking skills as well as nutrition information about the foods that are prepared.