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VSDC Eat Smart Program
Ends First Year on High Note

Reprinted here from VSDC News, March/April 2005.

With over 40 people attending the festive graduation ceremony of the second VSDC Eat Smart course on 14 January 2005, VSDC completed the first full year of its pioneering nutrition and health course on a high note.  The graduation was once again held at the lovely home of Saundra Woods, a VSDC member who also volunteers as an Eat Smart classroom assistant along with VSDC member Rose Johnson.  The keynote address was given by Dr. Milton Mills, Eat Smart advisory committee member and associate director of preventive medicine with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.  Dr. Mills encouraged participants to continue their journey toward healthier eating.  Earlier during the Eat Smart course, Dr. Mills presented an intriguing and popular lecture entitled "Are Humans Designed to Eat Meat?"

The VSDC Eat Smart Program empowers populations at high risk of developing diet-related disorders with information and strategies to provide healthier diets for themselves and their families.  Diet-related health conditions are among the leading causes of disability and death.  Data from the DC Department of Health indicate that heart disease, cancer, stroke, hypertension, and diabetes accounted for 60% of all local deaths in 2000.  African Americans, Latinos, women, and low-income individuals are disproportionately afflicted.

During its first year, the VSDC Eat Smart Program operated with a 1-year grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services to reduce racial disparities in health, with additional financial and volunteer support from VSDC.  For the second year of operation, VSDC has obtained a grant from the Kaiser Foundation.

The VSDC Eat Smart Program is directed by Tracye McQuirter, MPH, who also serves as the course instructor.  The six-member Eat Smart advisory committee includes: Dr. Mills; Doron Petersan, RD, proprietor of Sticky Fingers Bakery; Cyndi Reeser, MPH, RD, LD, lead nutritionist for the Lipid Research Clinic and Center for Integrative Medicine at George Washington University; Jennifer Keller, RD, nutritionist for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine; Robbie Ali, MD, professor at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health; and Coren Wheeler, education director of the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center.  Additionally, Dr. David Banks has provided evaluation services to gauge the program's success.

The course was conducted at the ROC-North Community Center and the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center from 12 October 2004 to 14 January 2005 with an enrollment of 32 people.  Several participants were referred to the course by their healthcare practitioners.  Most of the participants were African Americans and/or women.  Highlights of the course included three food demonstrations by local vegan chefs Denzel Mitchell of Live and Direct Cuisine, Coy Dunston of Secrets of Nature Health Food Center, and Zaviniah Israel of Soul Vegetarian Restaurant; a fitness demonstration by a team of certified personal trainers from Family Fitness Solutions; tours of Glut Health Food Co-op and Giant Food Stores; and a vegan dinner party hosted by Saundra Woods.  In addition, as a special treat, the participant who attended all 12 classes, Mae McNeil, received a free 10-class yoga pass courtesy of Flow Yoga Studio.

The outcome measures for the program exceeded our expectations again for the second course.  Of the 14 graduates who completed at least 70% of the program, 87% filled out the final survey, with the following results:

Participants' responses to the second course were very enthusiastic.  In their own words: "I loved the program!  I felt rejuvenated after I ate the fruits and vegetables and the other vegetarian food.  I also realized that buying vegetarian food was not as expensive as I thought and that the food really made a difference for me.  I would take the program again!" - Jennifer Rickerby

"The Eat Smart class was great.  The class increased my awareness of the variety of vegetarian food that can be prepared.  The raw food demonstrations were particularly good.  Also, Eat Smart helped me to be a more informed shopper by giving me insight into how to shop for nutritious food." - Dewey White

"Thanks so much for providing practical information on the importance of implementing more fruits and vegetables into daily meals.  The VSDC Eat Smart Program has enabled me to make a smooth transition into becoming a vegetarian.  This class increased my awareness of the health benefits that a vegetarian lifestyle has to offer.  I am proud to say that I have been meat-free for two months, thanks to Tracye, Saundra, and the VSDC Eat Smart Program." - Lori Pernell

"The Eat Smart Program provided me with the basic information to start the transition to a healthier diet.  I'm a near vegetarian on a mission to more conscious eating habits." - Benita Roan

"I took the Eat Smart class for several reasons.  I wanted to learn more about eating healthy.  I have been told that I have high cholesterol.  I wanted to gain some more insight into a vegetarian diet.  Since taking the class, I have reduced my intake of baked goods and meat.  I feel much better!  I am on a journey to become a vegetarian.  I still crave fish but surprisingly since the class, I have not had any fish!  I would recommend the class to everyone.  Through the class, participants can learn different options of incorporating healthy eating in their diet." - Carolyn Woods

"Because of the wealth of knowledge I got from the class, I changed the way I ate.  I'm eating less meat and more vegetables.  I stopped eating eggs and I'm almost free of dairy products." - John Hayman, Jr.

"The class helped me face reality - as an eater, I need to eat healthier.  I need to eat healthy food and snacks to keep my body in good condition to walk in divine health." - Yvonne Harris

"It's a whole new world of new food that makes me feel better and tastes great." - Mae McNeil

"This class was excellent.  I now see that I can have a much more varied diet as a vegetarian.  I especially appreciated learning what to use to substitute in a healthier diet.  My children will benefit the most as they have a lifetime of healthy eating habits and can pass them on to their children.  I definitely recommend this class and have done so to my family and friends.  And of course our smiling energetic instructor Tracye was honest and knowledgeable.  Can I take it again?" - Tricia Allard

The Eat Smart Program needs your help to get the word out to more people about taking this exciting and effective course!  The next VSDC Eat Smart course will be conducted from April to June 2005.  A new daytime class will be added to the schedule of two evening classes, so that the course can be conducted simultaneously at three sites each week.  If you are interested in attending, please visit www.vsdc.org for more information or call 202-362-VEGY (8349).  VSDC also needs additional funds to continue this project after the current grant period.  If you are able to help with a fully tax-deductible contribution, please send your check, payable to VSDC, to PO Box 4921, Washington, DC 20008.  Please write "Eat Smart Program" on the memo line of your check.

VSDC would like to thank all students, volunteers, Advisory Committee members, staff and donors for making the second VSDC Eat Smart course another great success!

VSDC Congratulates All Eat Smart Program Graduates: [names omitted]

[picture omitted] Dr. Milton Mills delivering graduation address to participants

[picture omitted] l-r: Saundra Woods, volunteer classroom assistant and VSDC member; Tracye McQuirter, program director and course instructor; Rose Johnson, volunteer classroom assistant and VSDC member

[picture omitted] Eat Smart graduates and participants

Help spread the word about the next VSDC Eat Smart Program so that more DC residents can benefit from this exciting and effective course!