About the Teaching Kitchen at Boston Medical Center
What We Do
As a component of Nourishing Our Community, the BMC Teaching Kitchen is a dynamic program that offers interactive, patient-focused nutrition education through hands-on learning. We provide engaging virtual and in-person classes that help participants:
- Apply nutrition science to real food and culturally relevant, nutritious meals.
- Build skills to improve capacity and foster positive behavior change.
- Cultivate connections through shared experiences and community bonds.
Who We Serve
Patients
Participate in classes tailored to complement their medical care, supporting adult and pediatric populations in outpatient settings.
Community
Attend FREE classes that celebrate diverse foodways, promote healthier eating habits, and build awareness of the Nourishing Our Community program.
Staff and Students
Clinicians, trainees, and students can join FREE classes to enhance their own dietary habits and engage in opportunities for professional development.
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Meet Our Team
Our program is facilitated by culinary experts and registered dietitian nutritionists credentialed through the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
Olivia (Weinstein) Thomas, MS, RD, LDN
Director of Nutrition Innovation and Implementation at Boston Medical Center (BMC), Olivia connects the Nourishing Our Community program with clinical and community partners to advance health equity. She specializes in integrating culinary medicine into care and creating culturally affirming, community-driven programs. A doctoral candidate, Olivia also holds leadership roles with the Teaching Kitchen Collaborative and the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.
Gabrielle Simons, MS, RD, LDN
Gaby Simons is the Teaching Kitchen Lifestyle Lead, a Registered Dietitian, Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, and mindfulness meditation teacher in training. Her culinary nutrition classes center behavioral and mental health, accessibility, and cultural inclusivity, helping people build a supportive and sustainable relationship with food and cooking. Gaby also leads employee facing meditation sessions in collaboration with the BMC Resilience Team.
Paige Rizzuto, MPS, RDN, LDN
Paige is the Culinary Nutrition & Digital Communications Lead with Boston Medical Center’s Nourishing Our Community Program. She oversees digital communications for the NOC department and Teaching Kitchen while leading virtual culinary nutrition education focused on healthy eating, chronic disease management, wellness, and prevention. She is passionate about creating accessible, engaging education that empowers patients and community members to build practical nutrition and culinary skills.