With new diets that will do any number of things from helping with someone’s cholesterol to helping them lose that last five pounds, Tracey Moody, local Food for Life instructor, is trying to help cancer survivors get their diets in order for their future and change their life for the better.

Food for Life: Cancer Project, are cooking and nutrition classes to help cancer survivors and those seeking to prevent cancer change how they eat and what they eat so that they may have a better and more productive future. These classes are designed by physicians and nutritionist to show how a plant-based diet can help people; it also gives people the know-how to cook the different recipes that are shown to them.

Tracey Moody has been teaching classes for over a year and has been studying nutrition for about five years. She will teach the Food for Life classes as part of Shepherd University’s Lifelong Learning program. Classes will be taught June 12 through the 21.

“Feed your body, fuel your life,” is one of Moody’s many mantras.

The diet plan resembles a rainbow more than the traditional pyramid that many are used to seeing when a diet plan is discussed. The plan that Food for Life follows is a plant-based diet that focuses on whole grains, legumes, high fiber and low-fat. The major thing absent from the diet is meat and dairy products.

“We are an overfed, undernourished nation. The plant-based diet helps bring nutrition back into (our) diet.” Moody said about the diet plan.

The American Institute for Cancer Research has studied how diet affects a person’s redisposition to cancer. Red meat (beef, pork and lamb) holds some nutrients, but not all that are necessary to maintain a healthy body and life. Research done by the AICR has shown a diet rich in fruits and vegetables could significantly help reduce the risk of certain cancers.

The Food for life project is a way for those who are looking to make a change in the way they live and the way they eat do just that. The classes not only offer this change, but also a support system that helps people with this major change in the way that they live.

“The goal is to educate, empower and support those that need it. I love that I get a chance to help and teach people something new, it makes me happy when I see them excited about it.” Moody commented.

With 2.8 million cancer cases being linked to diet, weight and physical activity (from the AICR) Food for Life is trying to educate people on how to live a better life through eating better food.

To learn more about Food for Life: Cancer Project contact Tracey Moody at nourishWV@gmail.com or call her at 304-279-4838. Also, check out the website at www.cancerproject.org.