Amanda Archibald is back with a new and exciting hands-on cooking workshop aimed at helping those with limited resources cook more nutritious meals.

Using time-saving equipment & quick cook ideas to create nourishing meals in affordable ways! This one day culinary-nutrition workshop focuses on preparing health-supportive dishes using a variety of convenience-oriented kitchen equipment, affordable familiar ingredients and basic cooking techniques. 

Recipes are purposely chosen to illustrate that healthful and affordable meal preparation is achievable in minimal time, using limited cooking equipment and basic cooking skills.

This program will be held on November 8, 2011 from 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM at the Adams County Extension Office. To learn more about this workshop, visit http://www.panen.org/fastfood-11.

Please contact Rose, 717.233.1791 or rcleland@phmc.org, if you have any questions regarding the workshop or survey.

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Are you an organization that is looking to connect with those working with the low income population? Or, are you an attendee that would like to see an organization as a vendor? If either one fits you, please contact Rose and let her know, 717.233.1791 or rcleland@phmc.org. 

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Increasing Participation in School Breakfast Programs
We have always heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. This has been a proven fact. Studies have shown that children who eat breakfast have an easier time learning and are less likely to be absent from school versus students who do not have a healthy breakfast. School lunch programs are very beneficial for children because they provide one-fourth of a student’s daily needs, however, participation in school breakfast programs can present challenges. Evaluating your school breakfast program and being able to meet the needs of your students is important for a successful breakfast program.

What Are Some Ways to Increase Breakfast Participation?

There are a number of ways that you can increase participation with breakfast programs in your school/district. Grab and Go is becoming a popular way to increase breakfast participation.

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In selection of methods to convey information to our target audience, communication trends have to be considered.

FY “2011” ended with PA NEN being partially approved for a social marketing campaign focusing on family meals with the text messaging portion under consideration. FY “2012” began with our social marketing campaign pilot being approved with our text messaging pilot still under review. PA NEN received great news the first week in October that our text messaging pilot had been approved. 

In constructing our social marketing campaign, the text messaging portion became an integral part, mainly, because of the popularity of this mode of communication.  Recent research from the PEW Institute (www.pewresearch.org) indicates that the trend is to ”text” not “talk” and this “trend” is growing among all segments of the population. Among low income adults, over 75% have a cell phone. In a study of media usability of the low income population commissioned by the Arizona Nutrition Network/ Arizona Department of Health, the cell phone was identified as “the” portable information and communication source. Among low income mothers, eight out of ten had cell phones and 89% utilized the texting feature.  

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PA NEN 2012 Annual Conference ~ What’s on Your Plate?: Empowering You with the Tools to Create Healthy, Balanced Nutrition Education for your Clients will be held April 24 & 25, 2012, at the Sheraton Harrisburg-Hershey Hotel, in Harrisburg, PA.

PA NEN’s 2012 Annual Conference will provide you with knowledge, awareness and tools for Nutrition Educators to manage what’s on their plates.

Do you have too much on your plate and can’t get everything done without stretching and stressing?  Then this conference is for you! With recent budget cuts and staff layoffs, many organizations do not have the resources to support increasing needs for nutrition education for low income Pennsylvanians. As a nutrition professional, you have so many things on your plate from counseling clients to staying on top of nutrition trends in the industry. Attend this conference to learn ways on how to keep everything in balance. 

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The epidemic sickened her brother, put her cousin  at risk, and almost killed her husband. You may wonder what kind of “epidemic” spread with such vengeance. The answer: Obesity and all the associated medical risks and emotional side effects. The Society for Nutrition Education (SNE) faced this issue head-on during one of the most controversial topics, which began the SNE Conference. The title of the session bluntly stated the issue: “Parents are not in charge of nutritional status of their family.” The session name is fitting because many caregivers do not—for a variety of reasons, such as a lack of ability, time and confidence—practice basic kitchen skills that encourage a healthier lifestyle.

Statistics show that those who cook and shop for their family direct 72% of what their family eats.¹ For most children, health related choices are not  innate—they are incapable of deciphering healthier choices on their own. This means making healthy choices must begin with guidance from family members or caregivers who possess such capacity.

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Reflections on The Green Hour: A Daily Dose of Nature for Happier, Healthier, Smarter Kids

On May 24, 2011 over 150 community leaders gathered in Hershey, Pennsylvania for the inaugural Pennsylvania Healthy & Active Communities Summit hosted by the Center for Nutrition and Activity Promotion (CNAP) and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). The goal of the Summit: “create a healthier Pennsylvania by activating champions throughout the Commonwealth and providing them with the resources and strategies necessary to create communities that promote healthy, active living.”

One of the champions to visit the Summit was Todd Christopher, author of The Green Hour, educator, and media producer who celebrates wonder wherever he finds it. Champions often develop from senators, city mayors, and teachers – even the president’s wife! Michelle Obama became a champion through her program, Let’s Move. Parents, like Todd Christopher, can also become champions. In his book, The Green Hour, written for parents and educators, Christopher provides a great framework for developing children’s appreciation for nature and outdoor time.

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“Before coming to the farm, I wasn’t much of a vegetable eater.” Statements like this, accompanied by watching a high school student munching on a head of raw bok choy, made my job as the Nutrition Educator and Farm Market Manager at the Joshua Farm this past summer an incredible experience.

The Joshua  Farm, located at 213 South 18th Street in Allison Hill, Harrisburg, presents the perfect opportunity to create lasting change and impact the dietary habits of the community. For the past 5 years, the Joshua Farm has been making locallygrown produce more widely available to our neighbors in Allison Hill and beyond. The Joshua Farm also provides employment opportunities for youth involved in the after school program and offers service-learning opportunities for students of all ages.

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As part of this past year’s Earth Day, hardworking volunteers, staff, parents and children gathered at the Germantown Women’s Y Early Childhood Program, located at 1240-42 East Chelten Avenue. “Y” Director, Geneva Vargas noted, “… a wonderful day — the volunteers stayed focused on the priorities, rolled up their sleeves, cleaned and painted. We had a lovely lunch, a project celebration, and we are preparing for a special event in the fall,” How does this all connect with Five & Fit, and what does Five & Fit have to do with the issue of childhood obesity?

Five & Fit is an intergenerational project designed to address childhood obesity. Older adults are trained to work in early childhood centers with children, their parents/guardians, center staff and the community to help children develop healthy habits.

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As Encouraging kids to eat healthy can sometimes be a challenge. After all, apple slices become boring and celery sticks get old. But healthy eating doesn’t necessarily have to be boring or old. It can actually be fun too!

So ditch your boring snacks this week and try some of these activities to make healthy eating more fun, enjoyable and memorable for children:

1.) Choose colors! Teach children the importance  of eating the colors of the rainbow. Adding more color to their plate is not only nutritious, but it also makes their plate look appealing and fun! Make it into a game and see how many colors they can eat each day. Chart it and see how much better they get throughout the week! They will love tracking and seeing their progress!
 
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Are you looking for a colleague? Or would you like to know what TRACKS programs are available in your county? Now you can when you take advantage of PA NEN’s Online Membership Directory! To access this member’s only benefit you will need to log in to the members only section of the website, then click on the Member Directory navigation button on the left. You will be able to search by last name, email address, type of organization, populations served, county. . . and more!

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PENNSYLVANIA NUTRITION EDUCATION NETWORK

This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

This publication is available in alternative media on request. We are committed to affirmative
action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of the workforce. 

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