By Kyle Tsukahira
Monterey Park, CA: On Sunday, April, 6th 2014 the Asian Pacific Islander Obesity Prevention Alliance (APIOPA) officially launched, “Connecting with your Roots,” a new healthy cooking workshop series aimed at teaching local community members not only about health and nutrition but also how to cook simple, healthy, and delicious meals using Asian produce. The first workshop took place at the Bruggemeyer Library in Monterey Park and had over 30 community members in attendance. APIOPA invited Chef May Chen out to share three simple Taiwanese vegetarian dishes that not only taste great but can also help prevent obesity and other health related problems. As a vegetarian for over thirty years, Chef May Chen shared, “My family has a long history of diabetes so I take extra precaution when it comes to my health and what I put into my body. I actually source most of the food I eat from my own backyard.”