KA 703. Nutrition Education and Behavior

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.

12 Teen Moms at Central High learn about "Suppers Made Simple". Learning about childhood overweight, physical activity, encourage inclusion of fruits and vegetables, milk or water instead of soft drinks and meal preparation was the emphesis of nine workshops which began in September and finished in May.
The moms attended nine 90 minute sessions offered by the Home Economist in McKinley. Activities included physical activities, MyPyramid, meal preparation, and take home materials. Social and economic activities saving money on food bill, choosing healthy food products and improving eating habits were also cover during the lessons. Moms gained health and nutrition education and useful life skill training.

“Food Mania” Workshop was held at Washington Elementary on November 16, 2006 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. PAT (Parents as Teachers) learned tips for feeding young children, making mealtimes pleasant, meal planning, they learned about MyPyramid recommendations, and viewed Portion Distortion power point. 13 parents attended the workshop and participated in several hands-on activities provided by CES Home Economist. Evaluation showed that participants gained useful nutrition formation, serving size information from MyPramid, and how to reduce stress at the table. Follow up with JoAnn Bitsilly showed that the workshop was very successful and participants gained good useful tips for people who live on a very limited budget.

ECHO Food Distribution Services and Midwest NM Community Action Program offer Holiday Nutrition and Food Safety Workshop to recipients. Holiday Nutrition and Food Safety was presented by McKinley County CES staff on November 14, 2006. The workshop began with the presentation of Portion Distortion and was followed by nutrition tips and recipes especially for food items received through ECHO. Participants received several Food Safety handouts including one on cross contamination. Evaluation showed that most recipients were not aware of cross contamination. Several said that they had tried some of the recipes that were given to them. They liked that the recipes were used with items they receive from ECHO which will change some disposing of items, because they don’t know how to prepare it