EATING HEALTHY SHOULD NOT BE A CHALLENGE

EATING HEALTHY SHOULD NOT BE A CHALLENGE

Aug 19, 2019 | healthy eating

EATING HEALTHY SHOULD NOT BE A CHALLENGE

Not all neighborhoods have major supermarkets or access to fresh vegetables and fruits at a reasonable price. This fact has become a major challenge for many seniors, whose quality of life and health is greatly depended on eating balanced meals.  Specifically, for all of us, eating well and healthy contributes to a better immune system, higher energy and emotionally, a more positive outlook on life. For many seniors, their location makes it difficult for them to enjoy these benefits.  Our regular visits to senior communities eliminate the challenges of food insecurity, location, and mobility that seniors may face by bringing our “Fresh Market” to the facilities where they live or the senior’s centers in their neighborhoods. .
Promoting Healthy Living

Promoting Healthy Living

Jun 21, 2019 | healthy eating, veggies for vets

Diana Gregory Outreach Services thanks WellCare Health Plans (WellCare) and BHHS Legacy Foundation for hosting a Veggies for Veterans event at the VA Hospital to distribute over 500 bags of fresh fruits and vegetables to veterans at no cost to promote healthy living.
Intergenerational Programs

Intergenerational Programs

Jan 11, 2019 | Caregiving, family support, seniors, Volunteer

At Diana Gregory Outreach Services, we offer more than carrots and kale and bananas and broccoli. We offer intergenerational programs where youth serve seniors.  During the holidays, in collaboration with the Archer Ragsdale Arizona Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. area youth engaged in packing bags of fruits and vegetables for seniors, serving a holiday lunch, and singing Christmas carols.  (Thanks to our presenting sponsor, Wellcare, for contributing the bags of fresh produce and to our volunteers for participating at Maryvale Parkway Terrace.)

And did you know that children who are involved in intergenerational mentoring programs benefit as well?

  • 46 percent are less likely to begin using illegal drugs
  • 27 percent are less likely to begin using alcohol
  • 52 percent are less likely to skip school

They develop “skills, values, and a sense of empowerment, leadership, and citizenship … social networks, communication skills, problem-solving abilities, positive attitudes towards aging, a sense of purpose and community service . . . [and] good self-esteem.”

Indeed, that’s a lot more than carrots and kale!

Over 2,500 seniors throughout Maricopa county received bags of fresh fruits and vegetables during the Gift of Nutrition program in November and December.  We thank Platinum sponsors – Southwest Airlines, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, AARP, APS and Carstens Family Funds.

Nourishing Grandkids

Nourishing Grandkids

Jan 9, 2019 | healthy eating

Nourishing Grandkids                                                                                          

It’s Monday and ten children, ages 5-12, are in the Community Room at Grandfamilies Place. They can’t wait until 4:30 pm to attend the healthy cooking class with their grandparents. Not only will they learn about eating healthy, they will also learn life skills. Prior to the starting of class, they all wash their hands, put on their aprons, chef hats and gloves.  

One by one, they stand in front of the class to introduce themselves and their grandparents. They are always asked a question. Today, they are asked, “What is your favorite fruit and why?”  Afterwards, their grandparents engage briefly in a discussion about what foods to eat to avoid inflammation and the symptoms of dehydration.   

On this day, it’s 110 degrees. A perfect day for showing everyone how to make smoothies. But first, the children will make almond milk. The almonds have soaked for six hours. After the children make the almond milk, they blend it with various fruits and dates to make a refreshing drink.  And they learn how to plate the smoothies and serve their grandparents.    

These healthy cooking classes have created a significant impact by accomplishing the following goals:

  1. broadening the participants’ experience with healthy foods
  2. elevating the children’s confidence
  3. drawing the children out of their shells
  4. socializing the children who can now talk to their cousins about what they learned in class
  5. teaching the children to work as a team and to take turns
  6. improving the children’s sharing and caring
  7. enabling both the children and grandparents to make friends and form relationships
  8. having children look forward to serving their grandparents
  9. hearing the adults often comment to each other how much the children’s public speaking has improved
  10. ensuring that the children eat what they prepare by involving them in the food preparation(Thus, they are eating more fruits and vegetables.)
  11. ensuring that grandparents eat fruit and vegetables and do not run out of food at the end of the month because they receive fruit and vegetables at every class.

We thank our sponsors that make this program possible throughout the year, African American Women’s Giving and Empowerment Circle, Carstens Family Funds and State Farm.

 

 

 

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Sponsors Healthy Cooking Classes

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Sponsors Healthy Cooking Classes

Jul 11, 2018 | cooking class, healthy eating, seniors

Let’s tip our healthy chef’s hat to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona! Their sponsorship of Gregory’s Fresh Market Healthy Cooking Classes and Nutrition Education Programs has made healthier the lives of 915 seniors.  These seniors participated in 26 classes in independent locations across the Greater Phoenix valley.

BCBSAZ has turned the vision of Gregory’s Fresh Market into reality: transforming and enriching communities by delivering a mobile, healthy lifestyles service program.  Valuable lessons were not only positively received by the attendees through our on-site farmer’s markets, nutrition education, and fitness stops but also put into action, resulting in seniors’

  • realizing that consumption of fast food is linked to lower diet quality and obesity in seniors
  • ability to prepare quick and simple meals at home
  • achieving a reduction in consumption of saturated fats
  • minimizing inflammation and dehydration

On behalf of the team at Gregory’s Fresh Market, we send heartfelt thanks for assisting us in fulfilling Diana Gregory Outreach Services fundamental mission: to ensure no senior and their families in our community go to bed hungry.”  

As for those 915 new, healthy chefs, this sample testimonial, one of many we received from seniors as an outcome of the Healthy Cooking Classes, sums it up: “On behalf of the seniors at Tolleson Senior Center, we thank Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona for sponsoring classes that show seniors how to cook healthy meals with fresh fruits and vegetables.” (Ann at Tolleson Senior Center).