The eating habits of Americans have been criticized by health experts for years. An over-reliance on pre-prepared and fast foods has had a negative impact on the general health of the nation. One possible contributing factor is too many people lack the skills and information needed to plan and prepare good nutritious meals in the home.
To address this issue among many others, the Womanfocus Department of Preventionfocus facilitates “Supper Clubs” and “Dinner Groups” in a variety of locations throughout the year. In “Supper Club,” groups of six to ten girls between the ages of 12 and 18 get together weekly for a minimum of ten weeks. Each weekly meeting is three hours long and consists of a curriculum session where important topics like goal-setting, problem-solving, self-esteem, body image, nutrition, and healthy relationships are discussed, followed by cooking instruction. The girls learn to read recipes, follow directions, measure ingredients, and plan meals with budget constraints and nutrition in mind. Through the cooking, the girls’ relationships with staff and each other blossom, giving greater impact to the discussions that serve to protect them against risky and unhealthy behaviors like using alcohol or other drugs. “Dinner Groups” are similar in structure to “Supper Clubs” but have content designed specifically to meet the needs of young mothers up to age 21. “Supper Clubs” and “Dinner Groups” take place in many different settings, including schools, churches, and community centers.
This summer, the Womanfocus staff will be holding a Supper Club in the kitchen inside the Preventionfocus office located at 69 Linwood Avenue in Buffalo. It will run from 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. for ten consecutive Tuesdays starting on June 29th and ending on August 31st. This session will be for 12-15 year old childless girls. Deadline for registration is Thursday, June 10th and space is limited. Parental consent is required. For more information or to register, contact Cheryl Stevens at 884-3256, ext. 219 or castevens@pfocus.org. |
