Nutrition Education Classes Help Promote Social Support System

Jun06

When you walk into the community center at Primrose, a senior living facility in North Austin, you are greeted by a bulletin board full of flyers promoting upcoming events and activities.

This bulletin board was once home to the CHOICES flyer promoting our eight week nutrition education series called Eating Smart, Being Active.

 Enrolled residents learned ways to eat healthier, shop wisely, and how to stay active.  In addition to learning how to live a healthy lifestyle, Nutrition Educator, Amy Tejada, believes that the series also builds social support among participants.

 At Primrose and other senior living facilities, it isn’t uncommon to see participants arrive 30 minutes early to class to play cards and catch up with other students. While Amy sets up for class, participants often approach her to share small bits of their lives. One conversation in particular left a lasting impression.

While Amy was setting up for the second class of the series, an unfamiliar face approached her and apologized for missing the first class. She shared that she was having a hard time getting out of bed since her husband passed away. Amy reviewed the material with her and encouraged her to keep coming.

Over the course of the series, she became comfortable volunteering helping prepare the recipe. While she cut onions and tomatoes, she shared stories of her childhood in Greece and her favorite Greek dishes. She also began arriving early to walk and make weekend plans with other participants.

The creation of friendships and social support is a secondary impact of our nutrition classes that influences overall health. There are studies that show a link between increased levels of social support and reduced risk for physical disease and mental illness. Social support is especially important for seniors that rely on organizations for assistance with daily activities and companionship.

 A strong support system can promote health by providing positive experiences, socially rewarding roles, and improved ability to deal with stressful life events. In an observational study of adults over the age of 50, those who experienced less social contact consumed less variety of fruit and vegetables than those with social connections. Social support offers encouragement, connection, and accountability which have been shown to be connected with adherence of taking medication, eating less fat and exercising more.

For more information or to schedule a class, contact Mary Agnew, Nutrition Education Manager, at (512) 684-2501 or email choices@centraltexasfoodbank.org.

Source: http://nutritionstudies.org/benefits-social-support-healthy-lifestyle/