Hello! My name is Bonnie Medlin and I’m a nutrition educator with the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program in Missoula County. EFNEP is a free program designed to reach limited resource families! We have had the privilege of working at Seeley Lake Elementary in the first, third and fifth grade classrooms for many years.
EFNEP also teaches adult classes by partnering with a variety of agencies. These classes teach easy meal planning, tips for stretching your food dollar, tips for increasing physical activity and tasty ways to eat healthy.
Success stories from our adult and youth classes:
1. After learning about the difference between whole grains and refined grains, one fifth grade boy said that he started to read labels on grain foods. He said when he visited his grandma they went through her pantry and found all the whole grain foods by identifying the fiber content and ingredient list. He said he felt that he could make healthier choices now that he knew how to find whole grains.
2. During the first adult lesson, one participant mentioned that she never made a shopping list and that she often ends up with multiples of the same item in her fridge. She didn’t seem to think that this was a problem, but as we continued to discuss the topic, she became more receptive to the idea.
During the Plan, Shop & Save lesson she was determined to learn some new skills for saving money and was helping others decipher store ads and even calculating out the cost of her meal. The last time I saw her she was excited to share that she wasn’t wasting as much food and felt like she was already saving money from the skills that she had acquired.
3. I just finished a class at the Missoula Food Bank and I had the pleasure of working with a grandmother raising her granddaughter. I quickly learned that this participant was crafty and confident in the kitchen, but she had diabetes and high blood pressure. Her doctor told her that she needed to limit the amount of sugar she consumed at each meal, to keep her blood sugar stable. I told her I was not a registered dietitian, but I could give her some great recipe ideas!
During the Get Moving lesson, I learned she wasn’t comfortable doing physical activities. I proceeded by modifying all the movements as she became more comfortable. Every week, we tried a few new activities. Around week six, she told me she had tried doing some of the seated movements at her kitchen table! Not only did this grandma start cooking healthier meals but she learned another way to control high blood pressure… exercise!
I am excited to announce that I will also be offering a series of adult nutrition classes to the parents in Seeley Lake this year! Through our nine-week series you will be able to learn and cook delicious recipes in a hands-on environment. Participants can score some cool kitchen gadgets at every class they attend! For more information please contact Bonnie Medlin and Julia Goar at 406-258-4207. We hope to hear from you!
Reader Comments(0)