30/06/2026
🌿 International Recognition for a Local Solution 🌿
We are honored to share that the Healthy Futures School & Community Garden Cookbook has been nominated in three categories for the 2026 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards:
🏝️ South Pacific – Free Category
🍎 School Meals with Recipes
💚 Health and Nutrition
While this recognition celebrates a cookbook, it also recognizes something much larger.
The Healthy Futures Cookbook was created to help address some of the most pressing health challenges facing the Marshall Islands by promoting nutrition education, healthy eating habits, school and community gardens, and the use of locally grown foods.
Through practical recipes, gardening knowledge, and wellness education, the cookbook empowers children and families to make healthier choices while strengthening food security and preserving cultural food traditions.
This nomination highlights the power of community-driven solutions and the impact that can be achieved when educators, healthcare professionals, students, volunteers, and partners work together toward a healthier future.
We would also like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Jo Dean, author of the Healthy Futures Cookbook, whose vision, dedication, and work helped bring this project to life. Her passion for improving community health and empowering future generations through nutrition and education is reflected throughout every page of this remarkable resource.
The official shortlist will be announced on October 20, 2026, with the awards ceremony planned for late November.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this achievement possible. Together, we are planting seeds for healthier generations to come. 🌱
