KA 703. Nutrition Education and Behavior (McKinley County Nutrition Plan of Work )

RMCH Diabetes Support Group completes “Kitchen Creations” a school for people with diabetes and their families. RMCH Dietician, Carolyn Manke requires new patients to enroll in “Kitchen Creations” as a way of helping them cope with the new changes in their eating habits. “Kitchen Creations” provides them with useful information about the serving sizes, 50/50 Method, preparing meals traditional and other using lean meats with less oil/fat usually accomplished without compromising flavor. A Traditional New Mexican Recipe Book is used for the classes. The patients enjoyed preparing and tasting the recipes and learning about the types of foods that are healthier when eaten in moderation. This group met once a month at Red Rock’s Methodist Church. 13 adult and 2 youth participants completed the series and received their certificates in April of 2007. Evaluation showed healthier changes in their eating habits and finally that they were more conscious about their daily activities.

This year's Indian Livestock Day's was held at McGee Park in Aztec, NM on May 16-17, 2007. A Nutrition component workshop and poster sesion was added this year. The food demonstrations included audience participation and the treat was that everyone reeped the benefits by tasting the foods that was preapared during the sessions. The audience participation was great Dr. Guiterez assisted with the preparation of Soy Burgers and Jenny Benally also volunteered to help with one of the other recipes. Other recipes prepared by the group were; Goofy Waldorf Salad and yogurt in a bag. There were about 12 participants for the sessions. During the poster session participants received Gobblin' Granola prepared by the San Juan County Nutrition Educator. Poster session included information on Portion Distortion, Super's Made Easy, How Much Fat in Fast Foods? MyPyramid and more. Home Economist from San Juan, McKinley and Sandoval counties lead the activities.

ICAN Nutrition Education for 11 Crownpoint Home Care Providers was required with the emphasis on rural living. The ICAN 12 lesson series began in October of 2006 and met once a month at the Navajo Housing Authority Building in Crownpoint, New Mexico. Many homes of the elderly living in rural communities lack electricity and indoor plumging, therefor special attention for their safety falls to Home Care Providers. Adult Home Care Providers make weekly visits to their elderly population in rural communities. Helping them to make do with what they have is sometimes a challenge, but home based education is the one way of helping them that does not require them to travel. Ces Nutrition Educators train the Home Care Providers to accomodate the elderly in the areas of Nutrition and Food Safety by providing hands on activities to them that will benefit people who lack running water and electricity. The ICAN 12 lesson series was completed by 11 participants in May of 2007.

Tohatchi Health Center and CES staff offered a Holiday Cooking Workshop for the IHS (Indian Health Services) Diabetes Support Group on the evening of November 15, 2006. 23 people attended and learned ways of preparing healthy holiday foods. Recipes from the Splenda No Calorie Sweetener Cookbook. Orange-Almond Salad, Chile Meatloaf, and Mocha Swirl Cheesecake were the Recipes prepared by attendees. A Splenda beverage Banana Raspberry Smoothie was also prepared. The workshop stressed calorie count and serving size. The participants learned that they too could enjoy desserts that were healthy. Comments were positive and infavor of using substitute sweetners. The one time workshop was collorabated with Effie Barney IHS Diatician, and Ces Home Economist. The Gallup Community Pantry donated several of the items used in preparing the recipes. These items were distributed the following friday to community members, LaRae Kendall Nutrition Educator dissemenated recipes to food box recipiants. About 1,235 people recieve the monthly food box each month.

13 eigth grade students receive Diabetes Prevention Education and follow up with "Kitchen Creations" a cooking school for people with diabetes and their families. Evaluation showed that the majority of students are in good health, several admitted that they were overweight and concerned and trying to change eating habits. The students started weekly lessons from March to April 12 lessons in all. Kitchen Creations was geered to teen food consumption with healthy alturnatives from the the Kitchen Creations New Mexico recipes. A few of the recipes they prepared and tasted included; Navajo Taco, Green Chile, Chicken Enchiladas, Pineapple Salsa, Super Easy Slaw, Frozen Peach Melba and Sopa. Eating habits and attitudes changed during the 12 lessons and they became aware of the real dangers of eating fast foods.