J.A. Fair K-8 Prep

Our International Trends and Services Facet conducted a project in September, 2023 with Next Generation girls at our adopted school, JA Fair. They rented a Little Rock School District bus and a driver at took the students on a field trip to the International Festival at University Arkansa for Medical Sciences. Doctors, medical students and other medical professionals from around the world introduced the girls to foods, art and so many other things represented many different countries and cultures. From Tanzania to Egypt to Nepal, the girls experienced the flavor of far anyway lands including food, artwork, clothing and more. It was truly an enriching and life changing experience.

Alyssa Frisby, Culinary Medicine Registered Dietitian, and Culinary Medicine Sous Chef Agina Rasool partnered with the Little Rock Chapter of The Links, Incorporated to lead a nutrition presentation and hands-on demonstration for students in the JA Fair K-8 Preparatory School’s Next Generation Club. (Visit story links below) 

https://culinarymedicine.uams.edu/2022/07/15/presentation-at-j-a-fair/

https://www.kark.com/video/uams-civic-club-the-links-partner-to-promote-healthy-eating-for-kids/7699563/

https://www.fox16.com/news/uams-civic-club-the-links-partner-to-promote-healthy-eating-for-kids/

Alyssa Frisby, Culinary Medicine Registered Dietitian, and Culinary Medicine Sous Chef Agina Rasool partnered with the Little Rock Chapter of The Links, Incorporated to lead a nutrition presentation and hands-on demonstration for students in the JA Fair K-8 Preparatory School’s Next Generation Club. During this session, students learned about the benefits of including fiber in their diets and discussed foods that are good sources of fiber. A diet high in fiber can help lower cholesterol and help prevent heart disease and diabetes. Fiber also increases feelings of fullness, which may help with weight management. Students, with the help of The Links volunteers and J.A. Fair faculty and staff, prepared a grain and vegetable salad and crafted their own simple vinaigrette. The Mediterranean-inspired salad included quinoa, brown rice, tomatoes, chickpeas, cucumber, and red onion, and was full of flavor and fiber. Students then prepared batches of trail mix to take home and learned about the nutritional benefits of fiber-rich nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. 

UAMS Culinary Medicine staff, joined by the Little Rock Chapter of the Links, Inc. volunteers, returned to J.A. Fair K-8 Preparatory School to promote healthy snacking, and discuss the importance of fruits and vegetables in a healthy diet.  Alyssa Frisby, Culinary Medicine Registered Dietitian, and Culinary Medicine Director Dr. Gloria Richard-Davis led a nutrition presentation and hands-on demonstration for students in the J.A. Fair K-8 Preparatory School’s Next Generation Club. Students were asked to write down as many fruits and vegetables as they could think of using colorful markers. The exercise prompted students to think about fruits and vegetables as they collaborated with Links volunteers to fill out sheets of posterboard with a rainbow of colors.