Make Every Bite Count! (Potluck & Presentation)

Dr. Elise Atkins will present information about how eating a whole food plant-based diet can help you achieve and maintain your desired weight while feeling strong and energetic. Whether you are on weight loss Medic*tion, thinking about starting or want to avoid it entirely, learn how to make every bite count so you can enjoy what you eat and live your healthiest life.

We will start our time together with a whole food, plant-based potluck. Please bring a dish to share that is made exclusively from whole plant ingredients and is free of added oil. Please avoid bringing dishes containing meat, dairy, fish, eggs, or other animal-derived ingredients. To align with the topic of the evening, we encourage you to bring a dish that you think people would enjoy, whether they eat plant-based or not!

Here are some recipe sites for inspiration:

• Forks Over Knives Recipe Collection
• Monkey and Me Recipes
• Center for Nutrition Studies Recipes

If you are new to this way of eating, feel free to bring something simple like a fresh fruit platter or green salad.

Dr. Elise Atkins’ greatest joy is using her knowledge and passion to help people live their healthiest lives. She is triple board certified in Family Medicine, Lifestyle Medicine and Obesity Medicine. With a deep-seated dedication to her patients’ success, she combines extensive medical knowledge with a genuine passion for lifestyle transformation.

After discovering the magic of whole food plant-based nutrition in 2018, she and her husband transitioned their diet almost overnight and haven’t looked back since. Seeing their own medical issues resolve inspired Dr. Atkins to delve further into learning about nutrition and lifestyle medicine and sharing these life-changing principles with her patients.

In early 2023, Dr. Atkins founded Coastal Vitality MD, a pioneering medical practice dedicated to empowering individuals to lose excess weight, reverse chronic disease, and embrace a life of vitality and longevity. For each patient, she customizes a set of powerful lifestyle tools and provides individualized support to help them achieve their health goals.

Dr. Atkins completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan and Columbia University, and she studied medicine at the State University of New York Health Sciences Center at Downstate. She brings her rich experience from her career in primary care and physician leadership into her Lifestyle Medicine and Weight Management specialty medical practice.

in addition to your plant-based dish to share, please bring your recipe or a list of ingredients. And please invite your friends!

Drive towards the back of the parking lot. About halfway down you will see a smaller parking lot towards the left. We are in Sundean Hall, between the side parking lot and the street.

Also check out other Food & Drink events in Santa Cruz, Health & Wellness events in Santa Cruz.