Recipes for Change: Living Lighter

at Hull Rd FWB Church, Kinston, NC

Presented by Angie Doncaster, RD, LDN & Mary Shands Come to the Table Conference

February 4, 2013

Who We Are Angie – LMH Dietitian

Mary – Hull Rd Church Christian Education Director

…an unlikely pairing?

…brought together

by the Living Lighter program

What is Living Lighter? •  A healthy lifestyle program offered to African

American churches in greater Lenoir county •  Focus on Healthy Eating & Activity •  Sessions led by a Registered Dietitian •  10-15 people per class

Healthy living in North Carolina?

Where did the program come from? •  Grant from Kate B Reynolds ð LMH •  Purpose = Increase nutrition education &

promote behavior change. •  Target persons with or at risk for Diabetes

Why work with churches? •  Strategy to offer education at churches for

several reasons: •  ↑ sense of community •  Target African American population; higher

prevalence of diabetes •  Bring the resources to the people

Why Hull Rd Church? •  Hull Rd initially identified through Ms. Shands •  Desire for a healthy living program targeting

reducing risk of and treating diabetes •  Hull Rd 1 of 5 churches throughout 2 grant

yrs

What happened when you ran the program at Hull Rd? •  20 participants over the course of 2 sessions •  85% completed the 19 week program •  Outcome measure = weight loss goal of 5-7%

•  24% (4/17) met weight loss goals

Successes…

•  Good participation (especially 1st session) •  Camaraderie amongst the group •  Increased learning about healthy eating •  Exposure to new ways of preparing food…

“Pssst…you’re greens aren’t shiny.”

& Challenges… •  ↑ learning about nutrition and healthy lifestyle ≠

behavior change •  Program is finite – will changes continue? •  Culture of food and social gatherings intricately

woven •  Cultural perceptions about weight & health

Lessons Learned •  Nutrition and health education is needed •  Churches are a great place to implement healthy

living programs •  Need to look at sustainability of programs and find

ways to get members invested

Lessons Learned (cont’d)

•  Practical applications have greater impact? •  Cooking classes •  Farmer’s market trips •  Community gardens •  CSAs

•  Peer & community-based “leaders” critical

Recipes for Change: = Health Concern +

Healthy Food Access? = Expert knowledge +

Peer influence? = Collaboration +

Commitment?

Thank-you!