Meals Jonezi and local people companions not too long ago introduced taste and well being schooling to Southeast D.C., celebrating Nationwide Diet Month with a mission to indicate that nutritious consuming can nonetheless be scrumptious and culturally rooted.
Consultants agree that vitamin performs a crucial position in selling well being and stopping or managing persistent ailments like coronary heart illness, diabetes, and weight problems. Analysis from the Nationwide Institutes of Well being confirms that community-based vitamin schooling can considerably enhance well being outcomes by encouraging more healthy consuming habits and decreasing diet-related sicknesses.
Meals Jonezi hosted its annual Wholesome Flavors of the Metropolis occasion in March on the Benning Stoddert Recreation Middle in Ward 7. The occasion featured a big selection of tasty dishes — all made with out added sugar, salt, or unhealthy oils — to emphasise that wholesome meals can nonetheless be stuffed with taste.
“We needed the group to see that you may eat wholesome and nonetheless get pleasure from your cultural and conventional meals — with out salt or sugar,” mentioned Charmaine Jones, MS, RDN, LDN, founding father of Meals Jonezi. “Our purpose is to bridge the hole between vitamin consciousness and on a regular basis entry to wholesome meals in low-income communities.”
What began practically a decade in the past as a weblog sharing nutritious spins on traditional delicacies has grown right into a full-fledged initiative. Meals Jonezi now offers community-based vitamin schooling, cooking demos, and one-on-one counseling, particularly for these communities dealing with increased charges of diet-related sicknesses.
“Too typically, there’s a scarcity of accessible vitamin steering in our neighborhoods,” mentioned Jones. “We’re altering that by assembly folks the place they’re—with actual meals and actual options.”
The occasion, which takes practically six months to plan, was co-sponsored by the Managed Care Collective, together with Amerigroup DC, AmeriHealth, MedStar Household Alternative DC, and DC Wholesome Households, a program underneath the Division of Well being Care Finance. East of the River Residing, a local people group, additionally participated.
Nolan Carr, a consultant from Amerigroup DC, underscored the significance of group partnerships.
“Diet is prime to good well being,” mentioned Carr. “Organizations like Meals Jonezi assist drive more healthy outcomes by connecting folks to the assets they want.”
Trying forward, Jones shared that Meals Jonezi will quickly open a brand new Wellness Middle close to the occasion web site — an thrilling enlargement of their work in Ward 7.
“That is only the start,” she mentioned. “We’re right here to remain — and we’re right here to assist our group eat effectively and reside higher.”For extra data, recipes, and upcoming applications, go to foodjonezi.com.
