By Pueblo a Pueblo | School Health and Nutrition
During Sandy’s last visit to La Cumbre Primary School, there was a lot to see. First, she stopped by the school library, established by Pueblo a Pueblo’s Pathways to Literacy project in 2015. Then, she walked through the organic school garden, also built with Pueblo a Pueblo’s support back in 2011.
Outside the garden, she greeted Principal Ricardo Sitan and asked about his plans for the corn, lettuce, and greens she saw growing there. “Same as always,” he said. “The harvest goes right into the kitchen to become part of the students’ lunch.”
Next, Sandy headed straight for that same kitchen. As she unpacked her ingredients, pairs of mothers and students began to arrive for their last healthy cooking class of the year. Sandy began the session by introducing the day’s topic: mindful eating.
“It’s easy to overeat, or eat the wrong foods, when we aren’t paying attention,” she said. Sandy then shared some tips with the group. “It’s best to eat more, smaller meals,” she explained. Her recommendation? Eat three meals a day plus a late-morning snack.
Sandy also cautioned against distractions at the dinner table. “Many of us have phones, computers, a TV in the kitchen,” she said. “Try to put them aside while you’re eating.” It's important to pay attention to when our bodies are hungry, satisfied, or overfull.
Sandy then introduced participants to the day’s key ingredients: broccoli and lentils. “Broccoli is a common food here, but most people just serve it in eggs,” Sandy explains. “Today we’ll be trying a new way of preparing it.”
Lentils are less common, Sandy said, but they are an affordable and fast-cooking alternative to black beans and full of protein and fiber. She passed around a bag of dry lentils so the group could get familiar with the new food.
Next, everyone set to work making a delicious meal of broccoli fritters and lentil salad under Sandy’s instruction. Once the food was ready, the mothers transferred it into their own pots and Tupperware containers to bring home to their families for lunch.
Over 500 family members enjoyed these healthy meals in 2019. Sandy teaches students and mothers how to cook and eat healthier. Then they share their knowledge at home, multiplying the impact of Sandy's trainings. Thank you for believing in the importance of nutrition to a healthy life. Your support makes this project possible!
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