Getting Kids to Eat Healthy

In September 2009, I completed my first presentation for my independent study,  which consists of Childhood Obesity. The reason I chose the topic is to better myself and my daughter’s health. My goal is to let parents know about how to watch out for certain things concerning the risks on being obese as a child.  My first audience was a group of men from a parenting class, and also some women from an outside group, there was a total of 18 people.

Chiquita picks a ripe nectarine at Frog Hollow Farm

Obesity can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and Type 2 diabetes.  My wife and daughter came to my presentation to support me and see how it looked to be in the audience and to see me facilitate a class. I really enjoyed my first presentation.  I gave a lot of information to the fathers that came.

It was good to have my daughter to help me out with the food demonstration. The fathers didn’t know that they could prepare chicken in the oven. This part of the presentation was about taking the fried out of fried chicken. This presentation gave me the motivation to move forward and keep doing the work that I’m set out to do, and to give information to parents to better their way of feeding their kids and themselves.

Watch some of Chiquita’s Presentation (includes that recipe for un-fried chicken)!  –Chiquita

Hello from Nicole

Hello my name is Nicole and I’m excited to say that I’m the newest member of the Nextcourse Soul Food Project.

There are three things that got me interested in the Nextcourse Soul Food project. One is my love for soul food. Two is the soul food project has taught me a healthier way of preparing the food I love, and three is the privilege to be able to co-facilitate nutrition class and cooking class.  But, the most important thing that was given to me from the Nextcourse Soul Food Project was the opportunity to give back to my community. Over the next year I will be developing a healthy soul food cookbook for my community and posting my recipes here.  So, check back often!   –Nicole

Nicole practices her knife skills at a recent Soul Food class