1. Recipes for Change:
Living Lighter
at Hull Rd FWB Church, Kinston, NC
Presented by Angie Doncaster, RD, LDN & Mary Shands
Come to the Table Conference
February 4, 2013

2. Who We Are
Angie – LMH Dietitian
Mary – Hull Rd Church
Christian Education
Director
…an unlikely pairing?

3. …brought together
by the Living
Lighter
program

4. What is Living Lighter?
• A healthy lifestyle program offered to African
American churches in greater Lenoir county
• Focus on Healthy Eating & Activity
• Sessions led by a Registered Dietitian
• 10-15 people per class

5. Healthy living
in North
Carolina?

6. Where did the program come
from?
• Grant from Kate B Reynolds ð LMH
• Purpose = Increase nutrition education &
promote behavior change.
• Target persons with or at risk for Diabetes

7. Why work with churches?
• Strategy to offer education at churches for
several reasons:
• ↑ sense of community
• Target African American population; higher
prevalence of diabetes
• Bring the resources to the people

8. Why Hull Rd Church?
• Hull Rd initially identified through Ms. Shands
• Desire for a healthy living program targeting
reducing risk of and treating diabetes
• Hull Rd 1 of 5 churches throughout 2 grant
yrs

9. What happened when you
ran the program at Hull Rd?
• 20 participants over the course of 2 sessions
• 85% completed the 19 week program
• Outcome measure = weight loss goal of 5-7%
• 24% (4/17) met weight loss goals

10. Successes…
• Good participation (especially 1st session)
• Camaraderie amongst the group
• Increased learning about healthy eating
• Exposure to new ways of preparing food…

11. “Pssst…you’re
greens aren’t
shiny.”

12. & Challenges…
• ↑ learning about nutrition and healthy lifestyle ≠
behavior change
• Program is finite – will changes continue?
• Culture of food and social gatherings intricately
woven
• Cultural perceptions about weight & health

13. Lessons Learned
• Nutrition and health education is needed
• Churches are a great place to implement healthy
living programs
• Need to look at sustainability of programs and find
ways to get members invested

14. Lessons Learned (cont’d)
• Practical applications have greater impact?
• Cooking classes
• Farmer’s market trips
• Community gardens
• CSAs
• Peer & community-based “leaders” critical

15. Recipes for Change:
= Health Concern +
Healthy Food Access?
= Expert knowledge +
Peer influence?
= Collaboration +
Commitment?

16. Thank-you!