Thanks to a grant from the Muscatine Health Support Foundation, United Way of Muscatine is organizing a variety of healthy cooking food demonstrations throughout the community. “The Blue Zones Project has had a great impact on the health of our community and people’s eating habits. This grant has allowed us to reach community residents who might not be familiar with the Blue Zones Project.”, said Nichole Sorgenfrey, Program Manager for United Way of Muscatine.
United Way started utilizing grant funds to buy food and supplies for cooking demonstrations at the Muscatine Area Farmers Market and Healthy Living Festival. The goal of these demos was to get people to learn about how to use produce available at the Farmers Market. Some of the most popular demos were strawberry mango salsa, chick pea salad, and borchetta salad. “We had people of all ages trying new food for the first time. Two boys around the age of 13 tried mango for the first time. We also had a senior citizen who loves mango but didn’t know how to cut it, so she never bought it. She walked away from the demo know how to skin and cut mangos herself.”, said Sorgenfrey.
United Way is taking their healthy cooking demos directly to children. “We started with ISU Rising Star Interns doing a healthy snack demo at a Musser Library event. The banana pop demo went very well. It’s important to help children develop healthy eating habits early.”, said Sorgenfrey. The same banana pops demo (banana rolled in peanut butter and granola) was done again at the Community Block Party. There were over 250 samples given out at that event.
This week United Way started doing healthy snack demos at community after school programs. The snacks this week have a fall theme. They are making oranges that look like pumpkins, thanks to the addition of a celery stem and mini chocolate chip eyes. They are also making apples decorated to look like monsters. Peanut butter is used to stick on sunflower seed teeth, strawberry tongues, and mini marshmallow eyes. “We want the kids to see how easy and fun it can be to eat healthy. These are snacks that they can easily make themselves at home.”, explained Sorgenfrey. So far United Way has gone to the Sunset Park After School Program and the Flickinger Learning Center at Madison School. The other five Flickinger Learning Center locations will be participating this week and next week.
To learn more about United Way of Muscatine visit unitedwaymuscatine.org. To learn more about the Blue Zones Project visit www.bluezonesproject.com or contact the Muscatine Blue Zones Project local office at [email protected] or 563-263-8895.