In a recent post you read about Chloe, a former student of our Five Keys Culinary Arts School who was embarking on a 6-month internship with our Soul Food project. Well, 6 months have passed in the blink of an eye and Chloe successfully completed her internship. We are excited to report she has been hired by Community Works as a Job Developer working with clients in the Jobs Now program. Chloe is looking forward to the opportunity to help other men and women making their way back into meaningful work and a successful recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. Her own commitment to sobriety and a healthy lifestyle will demonstrate that new beginnings are within reach.
Chloe believes healthy eating is integral to recovery and she knows through both her firsthand experience and from teaching the weekly Soul Food classes, that women can change their attitudes about the importance of food in recovery. Reflecting back, she says oftentimes the women attending her classes were turned off by the name of a dish, or that it had only vegetables, but then were astonished by how good it tasted. She believes getting the women into the kitchen cooking the food, then tasting it, is key to overcoming resistance to healthy, fresh foods. Once they’ve had experience making a dish in the Soul Food kitchen, they want to make it at home for family and friends.
On becoming a healthy food advocate, Chloe says “its about attraction vs. promotion.” The women at the Women’s Reentry Center are able to see the commitment Chloe has made to eating fresh foods, shopping at farmers‘ markets, and generally paying attention to her health – it’s her routine now. They see she lives a positive and healthier lifestyle, and they want that for themselves. She says they can relate to her because she has been where they are, and it demonstrates that if she can do it, so can they.
Chloe explains the importance of whole grains
Chloe’s internship culminated with a presentation she created called Healthy Eating for Women in Recovery, and presented to women at Walden House’s inpatient treatment program. She was inspired to develop this presentation based on the alarming number of women she knew who relapsed back into drugs as a “weight loss” tool. She says when women enter recovery they often put on a lot of weight because they’re struggling with cravings and don’t know the right types of foods to eat to get their bodies on an even keel. As women cope unsuccessfully with the cravings and the added weight, body image and self-esteem plummet, turning many women back to the only remedy they know.
Chloe is quick to acknowledge and thank Nextcourse facilitators Rania Long and Niyati Desai. She describes how Rania raised her awareness for healthy foods and taught her some of the simple steps that could bring meaningful results. Then Niyati helped her gain confidence in her newfound knowledge by providing a platform to teach others. Chloe says their loving, open approach made them more than just teacher or boss, but also trusted confidants and supportive allies.
