This January, the American Heart Association, with sponsorship from The GIANT Company, is offering help for those struggling to make their healthy New Year’s resolutions stick. The region’s first-ever Healthy for Life® Workshop series will equip local residents with essential skills for better nutrition and wellness and demonstrate simple, healthy recipes to enjoy all year. The four-week workshop series will take place from 1-2 p.m. every Wednesday, starting Jan. 15 through Feb. 5, 2025, at the Project SHARE Farm Stand, 123 Lincoln St., Carlisle.
The Healthy for Life program is an evidence-based initiative designed to empower communities with knowledge about food, nutrition, and healthy lifestyle choices. Each week, dietitians from The GIANT Company will explore a different nutrition topic, empowering participants with knowledge and simple strategies that will make it easier to make healthy choices for themselves and their families. Each workshop will also include a cooking demonstration featuring a different heart-healthy recipe from the American Heart Association.
- Jan. 15 – Added Sugar is Not So Sweet with GIANT dietitian Shanna Shultz. Learn the difference between naturally occurring sugar and added sugar and how to swap in healthier alternatives when you’re cooking and baking. Shanna will demonstrate how to create a banana split berry yogurt parfait.
- Jan. 22 – Nutrition Facts Label Smarts with GIANT dietitian Charlotte Scheid. Become a confident, healthy shopper. Learn how to read nutrition facts labels and apply your new knowledge of calories, sodium, sugar, saturated fat and protein in a mock grocery store. Charlotte will demonstrate how to make a Mediterranean tuna chef salad.
- Jan. 29 – The Role of Food and Your Health: Blood Pressure with GIANT dietitian Kilene Knitter. Join us to learn how food can impact overall health and why blood pressure is a critical factor, too. Receive guidance to help you set goals to improve your health. Kilene will demonstrate how to easily whip up a velvety avocado pesto dip.
- Feb. 5 – Weekly Meal Plan Made Easy with GIANT dietitian Holly Doan. Learn simple tips for planning meals, selecting fresh produce and keeping your pantry stocked, all while learning how to make the most of sales and coupons. Holly will demonstrate how to make Mediterranean couscous salad with chickpeas.
The Healthy for Life program, co-developed by the American Heart Association and Aramark, is implemented nationwide in collaboration with community organizations. This Healthy for Life Workshop series is presented with support from The GIANT Company and in cooperation with Project SHARE. The workshops are free to attend, but advanced registration is required. Registration opens Dec. 30, 2024. Visit timetosignup.com/projectsharepa to register. For more information on these upcoming sessions, please contact Tamara Ramer at tamara.ramer@heart.org or 717-730-1767.