Teaching Health Through Food: Kayla’s passion for nutrition

In celebration of National Nutrition Month, Rene Des met with Special Olympics Michigan employee, Health Messengerand athlete Kayla Cornell to talk about how Special Olympics athletes are empowered to build healthy habits through practical cooking skills and nutrition education. Check out their conversation below.

I spoke with this month Kayla Cornell About how she helps her fellow athletes understand nutrition and make healthy food choices. Kayla has been a Special Olympics Michigan athlete for 23 years and enjoys participating in downhill skiing, softball, multi-hockey, and weightlifting.

Kayla’s passion for nutrition was inspired by her own struggles with making healthy choices. Since becoming a health messenger in 2018, she has used that experience to mentor fellow athletes on how to make healthy choices.

In 2019, Kayla created her own cooking class.”Let’s be healthy together“, a hands-on cooking program designed specifically for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). During our conversation, Kayla shared that her class teaches athletes how to be healthier in their daily lives by helping them understand nutrition labels, portion sizes, and learning how to prepare balanced meals. “I have noticed that people who participate in this class gain confidence in the kitchen, develop independence, and feel proud of what they can create,” Kayla added.

In her class, Kayla also shares some of her favorite healthy meals while teaching participants how to prepare a healthy dish. From baked salmon with asparagus to Italian turkey and vegetarian meatloaf, Kayla often uses visuals from Special Olympics Fit 5 Guide To help athletes understand portion sizes and different food groups. She also highlights the importance of hydration and shows how to make fruit-infused water.

In addition to cooking classes, Kayla is currently studying to become a registered dietitian to further her expertise in the field of nutrition. She also holds and completed a Food, Nutrition and Wellness certification National Nutrition Certification Program through Utah State University Extensionbased its creativity on strong nutritional knowledge. When asked why she chose to study nutrition, Kayla said: “I want to open my own clinic to work with people with intellectual disabilities… I had to find someone else because (Registered dietitian) didn’t know how to work with me… They gave me a bunch of foods that I wouldn’t even eat because … it’s a sensory issue and they weren’t willing to solve that problem. So, I want to be that voice. I want to be that person that can come in and teach these athletes. I understand first hand because I am one.

This experience continues to influence how she approaches nutrition today. Kayla shared a message to registered dietitians and nutrition educators, saying, “For too long, individuals with disabilities have faced barriers to access. We need to change that. Improving nutrition for people with disabilities requires a person-centered approach. We must listen (and) empower individuals with disabilities (to) actively participate in their health.”

“Whether you are a registered dietitian, nutrition educator, or policy maker, you have the power to be the catalyst for this change by creating comprehensive resources, advocating for access to nutrition education, and centering the voices of those (you) serve… This is a call to action: let’s build a food system in which everyone, regardless of ability, can make informed choices, thrive, and be empowered (as much as possible) – and now is the time to make changes“.

For Kayla, food is not just a job, it is a passion that touches every part of her life. At the end of our conversation, Kayla shared some advice for other athletes, “The advice I would give is that it’s important to be healthy and start doing some research. Look at some of these athletes that inspire you to help you and see what they do once you start seeing those different things and realize, ‘Hey, this is what I want to do.’ This is what I see. This is what I did.” It took me seeing someone else, a staff member who inspired me, and that’s how I became a health messenger. So start looking at what you’re doing in your life and seeing different ways you can inspire someone else. Be that motivation for someone else.”

Want more tips and sample plans? Payment Special Olympics Fit 5 Guide For everything you need to reach your exercise, nutrition and hydration goals!