Dr. Parker and I had a wonderful opportunity recently to meet someone who’s making a huge difference when it comes to families’ health and nutrition: Nimali Fernando, MD, also known as “Doctor Yum!”

*Nimali Fernando, MD (image via DoctorYum.org)*

Dr. Fernando operates her own pediatric medical practice, Yum Pediatrics, in Spotsylvania, Virginia. With a kind and caring staff, colorful fruit- and veggie-themed exam rooms, and an emphasis on both treating kids and educating families, Yum Pediatrics was both an inspiration and a place we immediately felt right at home.

That said, Yum Pediatrics was only part of our tour. Dr. Fernando is also the founder of The Doctor Yum Project, a truly innovative nonprofit whose mission truly moved us:

“The mission of The Doctor Yum Project is to change the lives of families and communities by overcoming the barriers to eating well.”

As soon as we arrived at Doctor Yum’s headquarters, we were greeted by the kind of bright, cheerful colors we love!

Dr. Fernando and her director, Heidi DiEugenio, graciously hosted us for a fantastic (and healthy!) lunch, prepared right in their on-site “test kitchen.” We were also treated to a wealth of information on how Doctor Yum got its start as an organization, the nutrition- and wellness-focused classes and activities they host, their community initiatives, and their extraordinary educational curriculum. Seeing firsthand the myriad of ways The Doctor Yum Project is transforming the health of families throughout Virginia and beyond was an incredible motivator to us in our similar endeavors right here in Annapolis!

*Meet Frida! Anyplace with a sweet pup running around is a place we want to be!*

After our visit, we couldn’t wait to join The Doctor Yum Project as a National Partner Practice. In this capacity, we’re given the opportunity to not only support this fantastic organization, but also to bring some of Doctor Yum’s resources to our own community of families here at Parker Place - and that includes YOU!

You’ll see some information about The Doctor Yum Project the next time you visit our office, but you don’t need to wait that long. You can start exploring Doctor Yum right now online! Here are some of our favorite Doctor Yum offerings for kids, parents and families who want to embrace a healthier lifestyle and have fun doing it:

Meal-O-Matic: Create your own, customized recipes based on the ingredients you already have on hand, or get creative with your favorite flavors or food preferences!

Free Webinars & Online Cooking Classes: Join Doctor Yum for fun, engaging, hands-on cooking demonstrations and practice your culinary skills at the same time!

The Doctor Yum Podcast: With fascinating guests, real-life tips, and plenty of food-related facts, this podcast is more than worth a listen!

Doctor Yum on YouTube: All the fun Doctor Yum content on video, available whenever you want to watch!

We can’t thank Nimali and Heidi enough for having us as their guest, and we can’t wait to see what The Doctor Yum Project has in store for the future!

Road Tripping: Our Visit to Meet Doctor Yum!