Nourishing Recovery: Plant-Forward Nutrition and Faith-Informed Support for Addiction Treatment

Recovery from substance employ disorder is most effective when it addresses the whole person—body, mind, and spirit. A webinar hosted by NAADAC, on Thursday, April 16, 2026, from 12:00-1:30 PM ET (11 CT/10 MT/9 PT), will explore the critical role of plant-forward nutrition and faith-based support in fostering sustainable recovery. This live, interactive webinar offers 1.5 Continuing Education (CE) hours for $25 and is designed for addiction professionals, social workers, mental health counselors, and other helping professionals.

The Interconnection of Nutrition, Mental Health, and Recovery

Substance use disorders can significantly disrupt the body’s relationship with food, mood, and nervous system function. Nourishment, becomes a vital, yet often overlooked, component of recovery support. The webinar emphasizes that individuals in recovery are defined by more than their diagnosis; their healing journey is shaped by daily choices, cultural identity, faith, and experiences beyond the clinical setting.

Plant-Forward Nutrition for Resilience

The session will focus on how incorporating plant-forward nutritional concepts can develop into a practical and restorative part of daily life, supporting mental health, resilience, and overall recovery. Carletta Yvonne Teklemariam, a Certified Nutritional Coach and creator of VegMomGo, will lead the webinar. Teklemariam brings over a decade of experience in plant-based nutrition education, combining scientific knowledge with practical strategies and compassion to make healthy eating accessible and sustainable.

Learning Objectives

Participants in the webinar will be able to:

• Explain the role of plant-forward nutrition in supporting nervous system regulation, mental health, and recovery for individuals with substance use disorders.
• Recognize the role of everyday food choices and faith in supporting whole-person recovery.
• Apply a Recovery-Friendly Plate framework to provide practical, non-clinical nutrition education within addiction treatment, peer support, or faith-based recovery settings.

Continuing Education Details

The webinar qualifies for 1.5 CE hours. A Certificate of Completion is available upon successful completion of an online CE quiz, with a passing score of 80% or higher. Participants have 10 attempts to pass the quiz. The course is available through the NAADAC Education Center. Successful completion of the full six-part “Restoring Balance” series and all associated CE quizzes qualifies participants for a Certificate on Restoring Balance: Mindful and Holistic Practices in Addiction and Recovery.

Accessibility and Additional Information

Live closed captioning will be available, adhering to W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Transcripts will be available for on-demand webinars recorded on or after March 27, 2019.

For questions or concerns regarding NAADAC Education, please consult the Webinar FAQs or contact NAADAC directly.

Who Should Attend

This webinar is designed for addiction professionals, employee assistance professionals, social workers, mental health counselors, professional counselors, psychologists, and other helping professionals interested in addiction-related matters.