And... It's a Wrap!

Time has certainly flown by as we concluded Workshop Houston's Summer Leadership Institute last Thursday. In our final classes, we learned about urban farming, current issues facing teens like substance abuse and eating disorders, careers in nutrition, and educational opportunities in the field.

My hope is that each student will take what they have learned, apply it, and live long lives with vibrant health. The goal was to educate young people about food choices and get them to think before they eat. One of our class mantras in regards to moderation was: "Too much of a good thing is bad, and too much of a bad thing is worse." Eating good food in the right proportions and in the right quantities coupled with exercise and healthy lifestyle choices is a formula for optimal health and longevity.

Weeks 1 and 2 in Review!

The first two weeks of class have been spent building a foundation for the course. In the first week, we introduced the course website, defined nutrition terms and concepts via PowerPoint presentations, kept food journals, and learned about African-American dietary habits in the early 20th century.

In week 2, we learned how to read food labels, tried new healthier snacks, learned how to assemble a balanced meal comprised of macro and micronutrients using ChooseMyPlate.gov guidelines, and enjoyed lively discussions about food and its effects on our health.

This week, we will review our readings on the dangers of refined sugar and learn how to "unjunk our junk food". The students will analyze their food journals and give oral presentations on what they have learned about their own nutritional habits.