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

“Just Move It” Health Fairs support nutrition education. Several Navajo Nation Chapters sponsored health fairs for their community members. The health fairs offered screening for diabetes, high blood pressure, dental and eye care. More than 300 Native Americans adults and children attended and took part in the free screening and exercise activities offered through various agencies. A light lunch was sponsored by Indian Health Services at each of the health fairs. The participants gathered health information, healthy recipes, free water bottles and other useful items. At each of the three health fairs about 70% of them completed the Just Move It walk.

FACE Programs adults complete “Feeding Children, Healthy Snacks and More!” workshops. 23 adults attended the four day workshops they participated in several activities that allowed them to prepare and sample several healthy snacks, they learned how to read nutrition facts, make meals a positive experience for children and include their children in the preparation of the meals. The last 45 minutes of the program encourage pre- school student participation. The students and parents work in assigned groups and prepare a healthy snack which is later shared with the entire class. Since 23 adults attended 4 snacks were prepared at each session. The groups shared their experiences in preparing the snacks and invited input from the other groups. Evaluation showed that the majority of adults liked the series and would recommend the workshops to other adults. The food that was used to prepare the snacks were products that the majority of people receive from the Gallup Community Pantry on a weekly basis. The program goal is intended to help recipients make the best use of products they receive as oppose to refusing to accept various items that are not commonly used by Native Americans.

Zuni Kitchen Creation –On February 27, 2008 13 adults completed Kitchen Creations (a school for people with diabetes and their families). Carol Shoulders, dietician presented several activities for the group and shared vital information with them on the causes, prevention and living with diabetes. They prepared several recipes and shared their comments about the sessions. The evaluations that indicated that knowledge was gained and that a growing concern continues for the community of Zuni and the number of people that have been diagnosed with the disease and live with it on a daily basis. Their concerns have reached Beatrice Panteah from Zuni Food Distribution Program. Beatrice and I have been working on a grant that will allow us of offer 5 sessions of Kitchen creations starting in January of 2009 and ending in May 2009. This type of education and information is very important for the community of Zuni and Healthy Lifestyles. Other Kitchen Creation sessions in past years have been well attended and Beatrice noted that outreach efforts should accommodate the clientele that needs this service. The number of people that have diabetes is alarming tribal personal agree that education it the best prevention.

Women’s Expo August 2008 Women’s health and well being, needs, etc., is of great importance to her survival, self esteem, self improvement and success. The popularity of Women’s Expo’s is growing and becoming annual events in several states. This year Gallup hosted their first “The Woman in You” Expo on August 16, 2008 at Miyamura High School. The event featured presenters from various health, nutrition, education, fitness, safety, and parenting agencies. More than 100 women participated in the day’s events and enjoyed entertainment from several youth groups which included dance, martial arts, and numerous performances by local singers. About 80 percent of the booths provided health/nutrition information and samples of various products were also available for tasting. Health/ nutrition booths that were present were Curves, Connections Inc., Gallup Crisis Pregnancy Center, Navajo Nation Program for Self Reliance, Healing Gifts, The Evolution Group, Inc., Families First RMCHCS, Community Yoga, Gallup Indian Medical Center, and several other agencies that presented education, parenting, etc.
Evaluations were given and collected the same day and showed that it was well received and 80% want to continue the event on a yearly basis. Participants gained knowledge about services from various agencies and took home useful information about self improvement. The goals was to make a difference in women’s lives by presenting resources that will help them flourish and succeed whether it is health, nutrition, safety fitness , etc. The event is a new Extension Program.

“Teen Kitchen Creation” the snack series for teens and their families. In May of 2008, 71 8th grade students from Crownpoint Jr. High completed the teen series of “Kitchen Creations” A cooking school for people with diabetes and their families in May of 2008. Like the adult series the students learned about the importance of healthy foods. They increased their knowledge about, 50/50 Method for planning meals and snacks, they learned the concept of serving sizes of different fruit, vegetables and other foods, they prepared healthy snacks, and they were introduced to new fruit and vegetables. The series substitutes the meals for healthy snacks and includes some of the activities that the adult program includes. Other resources used in this series A Young Person’s Guide to Good Food, What is Diabetes?, Who Gets Diabetes?, and Choosing Foods at Meals and Snacks. Evaluations showed that the majority of students valued the importance of the lessons and would continue to use that knowledge in the future. All the students received a certificate for participating in all four sessions. Sandra Madewell, the 8th grade teacher indicated that the series would be very important for her students, because many of the youth in the community are obese or overweight.