On Wednesday 8th of August 2018, I did my fourth cooking demonstration, sampling and nutrition education between 10Am- 12Pm at the Tewksbury Senior Center, Tewksbury, MA. The goal of the session was to educate seniors how to prepare healthy alternative snacks using simple healthy ingredients. I brought ready homemade Guacamole and Hummus. I prepared cucumber and carrot sticks and Quinoa chips for dipping. All ingredients were gluten free nut free and dairy free. I followed the ServSafe protocols for food handling. I prepared lists of the ingredients and method to hand in to the seniors. Most seniors enjoyed the healthy snack and some asked for more. Few were hesitant but later tried it after hearing the positive feedback from other seniors. The emphasis was on the importance of including protein rich heathy food in order to keep blood sugar stable and nourishing the body with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and healthy fats.

Iman Djarraya, MBChB, BMedSci, CHC

MPH Nutrition Graduate student at UMass Amherst

Intern at the Tewksbury Health Department, Tewksbury, MA

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I have panned, organized and implemented a six weeks nutrition programs for children ages 5 to 12 at the Tewksbury Public Library. The theme of the last part of the program is “Earth loves you. Love it back”.  A very important topic in nutrition that I wanted to cover in my program is taking care of Earth which is the primary source of nourishment to our bodies: fresh produce, water, fresh air and nature which is the nourishment for our souls and mental health. All above are crucial for wellbeing which is more than the absence of disease. The main categories included in the presented poster are: increasing the intake of fresh fruits and vegetables and reducing the intake of meat, supporting our community garden, supporting our local farmers, recycling paper, plastic, aluminum, paper and compost and growing our food. I have included arts and crafts activities such as drawing and sticking images of fruits and vegetables on half a plate to emphasize the fact that half our heathy plate consists of fruits and vegetables. Another exercise is putting different stickers in the right recycling containers e.g. bottles, cans, boxes, papers, fruits etc.

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What an awesome rewarding day at the senior center this morning Wednesday August 1st 2018. It was raw cacao demonstration! Everyone had one piece chocolate, two, three or more…No one refused it and everyone had a smile on! Isn’t seeing people’s smiles the most rewarding thing in public health work. Raw cacao is a super food packed with vitamins and antioxidants. The recipe is attached below.

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As I am becoming more familiar with the seniors who regularly attend the center and they are becoming more familiar with me and my presence at the senior center, it became more fun educating them and having a talk with them about their diet and what they can do to improve it. Today’s cooking demonstration was about the preparation of a heathy breakfast “Overnight Oatmeal” between 10 AM and 12 PM on the 25th of July 2018.

I brought a ready made oatmeal which I refrigerated overnight made of rolled oats, organic blueberries, unsweetened shredded coconut, chia seeds, pure maple syrup and low fat organic milk. Toppings include bananas, chopped dates, raisins and unsweetened shredded coconut. I also brought small glass jars for anyone interested to make one and take home.

I explained to the seniors the benefits of oats in lowering  LDL cholesterol and the supply of fibers. Most seniors enjoyed their oatmeal despite the fact that most of them are used to eating it warm not cold. They liked the idea that this meal does not require any cooking. They asked about the difference between rolled oats and cut steel oats as well as the presence or absence of gluten in oats.

It was a great experience educating the senior about ways to have a healthier breakfast. Later we gave out small glass jars filled with oats, raisins and coconuts to take home. We explained that they on need to add milk and a sweetener like honey or pure maple syrup. They accepted it with joy.

Iman Djarraya, MBChB, BMedSci, CHC

MPH Nutrition student at UMass Amherst

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It was a great day today 23rd of July 2018 at the Tewksbury Public Library, Tewksbury, MA. I planned, organized and implemented a Heath Fair for children between 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM in the meeting room at the library. We had five main stations:

1. Station 1: MY Plate Arts and Crafts : Children are educated about the components of a healthy plate and that half of our plate need to be fruits and vegetables. They were given a paper plate each with a marker line which marks the middle of the pate. They were encouraged to draw and glue in pictures of a variety of fruits and vegetables as a reminder to consume more of it. Children enjoyed this station and were very creative.
2. Station 2: The Identification of a Variety of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables. In order to increase the familiarity of children with fresh produce. They were asked to match the right name label with the right produce. There was avocado, artichoke, cucumber, lemon, mango, garlic, onion, zucchini, Anise, eggplant, broccoli, cauliflower, summer squash, kiwi and lime. The second component of the station, the child tried to identify different produce by putting his/her hand in a grocery bag without looking. There was lemon, cucumber and avocado.
3. Station 3: The Identification of Fresh and Dried Herbs, Spices, Beans and Grains. Children enjoyed looking at the components of different containers. They looked, smelled and touched these different heath foods. The following were available: cinnamon sticks, cinnamon powder, fresh basil, fresh thyme, fresh cilantro, fresh parsley, fresh rosemary, turmeric, sweet red pepper, ground cloves, cardamom, lentils, chickpeas, brown rice, pinto beans, black beans, oregano, cumin and fennel seeds.
4. Station 4: Visual Demonstration of the Sugar Contents in Different Sugar Drinks. Children can measure sugar in teaspoons of different drinks such as coke, Gatorade, Sunny D, Vitamin Water and Tru Moo. I also made fresh smoothies made of strawberries, bananas, mango, peaches and plain Greek yogurt to children and parents. Most of the children and parents oved the smoothie and many asked for more.
5. Station 5: The Movement Area. There were different toys available to entertain the children and encourage them to move such as a movement mat, hula hoops and jumping ropes.

The Town nurse Sarah Kinghorn booked the meeting room, provided the smoothie ingredients and some of the fresh produce. She educated the children about different herbs, spices, beans and grains (station 3).  Sheila Castillo volunteered to coach the children and guide them to make MY Plate arts and crafts. My friend Sarah Manchester coached children in station 2, participated with different fresh produce and educated the children to increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables. Station 5 (the movement station) was loved by children and used continuously throughout the two hours educational fair. Children were given reward stickers with messages about healthy eating. Few children won fresh herbs plants after doing exercise challenges.

Overall, it was a very successful experience and a fun-filled educational program. About 25 children and parents attended the heath fair and many of them stayed an hour or longer. Children left happy, joyful and full of energy. The community has needs for similar health promoting events.

Iman Djarraya, MBChB, BMed Sci, CHC

MPH Nutrition Graduate student at UMass Amherst

I lived in Tewksbury for eight years and it has been a great experience. I planned, organized and implemented a nutrition education program in Tewksbury to give back to my community and its residents. Nutrition education, posters and workshops took place at the Tewksbury Public Library, Tewksbury Senior Center and the Food Pantry. It has been an enlightening experience that helped me understand my community and their health needs more. I had the opportunity to talk with hundreds of people of different ages and backgrounds.

The director and the town nurse of the Tewksbury Health Department welcomed the idea of implementing community nutrition programs and they supported me through the entire process. The Tewksbury Pubic Library was also welcoming of the idea, they provided me with a table and shelves for my displays and a large meeting room for my upcoming health fair. The head of children’s services at the library shared her ideas and suggestions and provided workshop flyers to the visitors at the library desk. The senior center also gave me the space and table to do my cooking demonstrations and tasting workshops as well as a table to display my posters and flyers. I was welcomed to use their kitchen for food preparation. Despite the limited space at the food pantry, I was also welcomed and provided the space to do smoothie demonstrations and tasting. Most parents welcomed the idea that their children join the health and wellness weekly activities. They all agreed to fill in confidential surveys  about their children’s eating habits. 

Many local newspaper reporters were eager to learn more about the program, interview and take photos. Please find attached articles and photos of my community nutrition project that was posted on the front page of a local newspaper Tewksbury Crier on  July 18th 2018. An article in the MAPHN Newsletter also described the poster that I presented at the Tewksbury’s Annual Bike Rodeo and Health Fair 2018 (follow the link provided page 4 ) Overall, it has been a great experience. I learned that there is so much demand for community nutrition programs and there is a lot community support available for public health professionals who are interested to implement these projects.

Iman Djarraya, MBChB, BMedSci, CHC

MPH Nutrition Graduate student at UMass Amherst

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I planned four weekly cooking demonstration sessions and sampling at the Tewksbury Senior Center, Tewksbury, MA. This center works to enhance the quality of life of seniors by developing programs, activities and resources to enrich the quality of life. In order to do these demos, I took two certifications: ServSafe Food Handler and Allergy Awareness Training Certificates (attached below). ServSafe program delivers food safety training to employees. Allergy Awareness Training is provided to educate food services professionals about food allergies and how to prevent cross contamination.

I did my first cooking demonstration this morning 18th of July 2018 between 10 AM and 12 PM. I started setting the table and organizing it at 9 :15 AM.  Today’s Demonstration was about making healthy smoothies and its benefits to health and well-being. A list of the smoothie ingredients and toppings was provided and explained. The smoothie consists of fresh bananas, frozen strawberries, mangoes, peaches, pineapple, organic plain yogurt and organic spinach. Toppings are chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, unsweetened shredded coconut and fresh sliced berries.

Most seniors happily welcomed the smoothie and enjoyed it, few refused it due to diabetes and dietary restrictions. Four seniors were very enthusiastic to learn more and ask questions. They were very motivated to learn new things and intend to use the new tips at home. They were also happy to learn that I’m implementing three more nutrition workshops in the next 3 weeks.

It was enjoyable and rewarding educating the senior group who were curious and loved to ask questions and learn new things. It was a learning experience understanding the group who were hesitant to try the smoothie because it had spinach or because it was slightly green. I look forward to my future workshops and more understanding of the seniors in my community.

Allergy Awareness Training Certifcate

ServSafe Certificate

Iman Djarraya, MBChB, BMedSci, CHC

MPH Nutrition Graduate Student at UMass Amherst

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I spent the morning of July 14th 2018 at the Tewksbury Food Pantry. I worked with the Town nurse who is a wonderful lady who is passionate about her job and genuinely cares for people and their wellbeing. We did a workshop and a blood pressure checkup for the customers of the food pantry between 10 and 12pm.

Our focus was on raising awareness about healthy eating, health and wellness. I made a smoothie which consists of strawberries, bananas, spinach and plain yogurt. Most people welcomed the smoothie offer after describing its contents but few people refused due to reasons including intolerance to dairy and diabetes. During the time I spent at the pantry my thoughts were on how we can improve the quality of the food provided and how can we include fresh produce? Most products available were sugar filled such as cereals and snacks.

I presented a demonstration of the commonly consumed sugar drinks with the exact amount of sugar inside each of these bottles as well as the label clearly written on a card and attached to each bottle. Each card describes the exact amount of sugars in teaspoons and the ingredients. My focus is on how can we reduce the amount of added (artificial) sugars which we consume daily. Also, to explain that our source of sugar is better when it comes from natural foods such as fruits. Fruits are rich in vitamins and antioxidants and the sugar is absorbed slowly into our system avoiding the spikes in blood sugars.

Future preventive and public health work needs to focus on improving the food quality and the provision of fresh produce to the consumers in order to reduce the obesity epidemic and improve the health and wellness of the communities.

Iman Djarraya, MBChB, BMedSci, CHC

MPH Nutrition Graduate Student at UMass Amherst