VSDC Eat Smart Program's 5th Graduating Class

The 5th Eat Smart Program was conducted in Fall 2007 at the Josephine Butler Parks Center, the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center, and the Marvin Gaye Riverside Center with a combined enrollment of 75 people. On November 17, 41 students graduated in the ballroom of the Josephine Butler Parks Center amidst delicious and healthy vegan food, raffle prizes, guests, awards, and plenty of camaraderie.

Once again, the program was a success. Of the individuals who completed the final survey: 100% reported that their knowledge of the basics of good nutrition "increased substantially"; 100% reported that their knowledge of how to prepare healthful meals "increased substantially"; 97% reported that their knowledge of how to shop for healthful foods "increased substantially"; and 97% reported that their knowledge of how to eat out healthfully "increased substantially." In addition, 91% reported a "substantial improvement" in dietary choices for themselves; and of the participants for whom the question was applicable, 92% reported a "substantial improvement" in dietary choices for their families.

VSDC has conducted the Eat Smart Program since 2004 to empower low-income and other populations at high risk of developing diet-related disorders with information and strategies to provide healthier diets for themselves and their families. The heart of the VSDC Eat Smart Program is a 9-week course that includes nutrition classes, cooking demonstrations, shopping classes, and "eating out healthfully" classes. Program graduates receive a free, 1-year VSDC membership.

This year's graduates also received a free, 1-year Vegetarian Resource Group membership, as well as a reusable shopping bag filled with a variety of healthful foods that were highlighted in class (quinoa, lentils, green tea, oatmeal, barley). Additionally, all attendees at the event received a copy of the delicious recipes shared during the diet and cancer prevention video and potluck class. (Thank you to all the students for their much appreciated efforts!)

VSDC welcomed an all-new staff for the 5th Eat Smart Program: David Herring (Program Director and Program Instructor), Jemitra Hairston (Program Instructor), Evie Shen-Tal (Program Assistant and Cooking Demo Instructor), Cindy Klein (Program Assistant), and Mudhillun MuQaribu (Program Assistant).

Generous funding from the Consumer Health Foundation made the program possible during 2007. VSDC is anticipating its 6th Eat Smart Program in mid-2008 if we are able to raise sufficient funds, so your donation to the VSDC Eat Smart Program would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you to everyone who helped make the Eat Smart Program possible — the staff, the donors, the centers that allowed us to hold the classes, and especially the students! I hope that you will continue to put into practice and expand on what you learned over our 9 weeks together. Keep reading those binders, doing some yoga, reading the food labels, and cooking tasty healthy foods!

The above article was written by David Herring, Eat Smart Program Director, and was reprinted from VSDC News, Jan/Feb/Mar 2008, page 1.

All past Eat Smart programs: