SAN BERNARDINO

By Chris Levister

“NETWORK” HELPING LOW-INCOME ADOPT HEALTHY LIVING HABITS

San Bernardino mother Tracy Ruffins once hated vegetables, today she pushes her grocery cart past the sugary baked goods and other prepared foods straight to the produce section. "Carrots, green beans, squash, yuk as a kid I never ate them now I can't imagine a day without them," she says.  

Twelve year old Chris Richards is learning about vegetables at a Kid Can Cook Class hosted by the San Bernardino County Food Bank and Inland Behavioral and Health Services, Inc. (IBHS). 

Pregnant teen Lisa Cordero is sorting through crates of vegetables and fruits at the County Food Bank. "I grew up eating tamales, tacos and other high-fat Mexican food. I've got rotten teeth, high blood pressure and diabetes. With my baby it's different I want her to eat healthy," says Cordero, 17.

Sisters Belinda and Stacey Williams are learning about the importance of eating fruits and vegetables and being physically active using interactive activities including Power Bingo, Fruit and Vegetable Name Game and Preparation Power.

Children learn about the importance of eating fruits and vegetables and being physically active at Kids Can Cook Class hosted by a local non-profit health center and local food bank.

Ruffins, Richards, Cordero and the Williams sisters are learning the benefits of healthier living through the California Nutrition Network for Healthy, Active Families (Network) Demonstration Project.

(IBHS) is among a hand full of non-profit health centers across the state partnering with local food banks to promote healthier living by teaching nutrition education and encouraging physical activity to underserved groups.

The medically underserved patients at the health centers receive full-service medical care as well as dental, vision and well baby care. Nearly 70 percent of the clientele at the center are below 100 percent of the federal poverty level. Nearly 75 percent are Hispanic.  In 2006, Network funded health centers received more than 2.1 million visits and more than 360,000 patients.

Network funding provides resources like the 5-a-Day Power Play campaign and Physical Activity Toolbox for Community Educators and nutrition reinforcement items such as coolers, aprons and cutting mats that help promote the message of healthy living. The items are handed out at health center presentations and community health fairs where participants learn about cooking a stir-fry through a demonstration or how to eat the recommended daily amount of fruit by making smoothies.

The food banks teach food pantry representatives to educate their clients on healthy eating choices and how they can integrate fruits and vegetables into their diet inexpensively, said Jessica Bartholow, statewide program manager for Food Stamp Outreach and Nutrition Education with the California Association of Food Banks (CAFB).    

 "Many people with low incomes are only comfortable buying food that won't perish," said Bartholow.  "Food banks can expose people to food they've not tried before and with a coordinated nutrition education effort, can teach them how best to use and extend the life of produce so they're more comfortable purchasing fruits and vegetables with their Food Stamps or own dollars in the future."

Bartholow said having statewide coordination has resulted in institutional changes within food banks, such as a decrease in the amount of unhealthy foods being distributed and an awareness about serving food low in saturated fats.

At food banks around the state donuts, sugary snacks, sodas, fried foods and other high fat content foods are being phased out in favor of a rainbow of fruits and vegetables. That's good says Chris Richards who prepared a fresh green bean casserole and cranberry relish for his family's Christmas dinner. Everybody thought what I made tasted good says Richards who admits to sneaking in an occasional Big Mac.