Food is Medicine: A Community Cooking Experience at Willard
Launch the media gallery 1 playerWillard Community Center is excited to welcome the community to Food Is Medicine, a two-part cooking demonstration series designed to show how healthy, affordable meals can support overall wellness. These interactive demonstrations will take place on Thursdays, January 8 and January 15, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Willard Community Center, located at 1245 S. Folsom Street in Lincoln.
Participants will enjoy cooking demonstrations led by award-winning executive chef Nazim Khan, who will share practical tips for preparing nourishing meals at home. Each session will feature a different recipe, including Cajun Shrimp and Sorghum Risotto on January 8 and Falafel with Tzatziki Sauce on January 15. Attendees will have the opportunity to sample the featured dish and enter for a chance to win a recipe book.
Chef Nazim Khan brings decades of culinary experience to this series. He began his career as a sushi chef in 1997 and has worked in renowned kitchens, including the New York Marriott Marquis, Long Island Marriott, and the New York Battery Park Ritz-Carlton. He has also served as an educator and chef for Virginia Tech. Today, Chef Nazim is the executive chef for Bryan Health, where he has developed multiple popular plant-based protein dishes for both retail and patient meal services.
Beyond his professional achievements, Chef Nazim is deeply committed to community wellness. He regularly shares his passion for healthy, locally sourced food through community events and culinary demonstrations that encourage people to nourish both body and spirit. In his free time, he serves meals to local firefighters, honoring those who lost their lives on September 11.
Chef Nazim’s work has earned national and regional recognition. He was named one of the United Fresh Produce Excellence in Foodservice award winners in 2016, achieved Worldchefs Certified Master Chef status in 2019, and received the Spotlight Award in 2024 from the Association for Healthcare Foodservice. He is also a proud member of the Nebraska Food Council.
Food Is Medicine is offered through a community partnership between Bryan Health and Willard Community Center. We invite community members to join us for these engaging, educational sessions that highlight how good food can be a powerful tool for better health.