An initiative of the North Carolina Council of Churches

November 2010

Partners in Health and Wholeness Newsletter
A Newsletter by the North Carolina Council of Churches

Vol. 2, No. 4

Key Topic in this Issue:
Tips for a Healthy Holiday Season

In This Issue
'Tis the Season...
Health Care Reform
PHW Certification Program
Clergy Breakfast on Health
New Brand
Sample Recipe

TIS THE SEASON TO BE HEALTHY, HAPPY AND WHOLE

It's hard to believe that the holiday season is upon us again - it's time to make those travel plans, pull out our favorite recipes, dust off the decorations, and find creative, meaningful ways to express our love and appreciation for others. 

As people of faith, we strive to demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ throughout the year, not only during the holidays.  Our scriptures teach that it is better to give than to receive (Acts 20:35) and that we should love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39).  Too often, however, we forget to care for ourselves in the same manner as we care for others, particularly when the demands of family and work life begin to weigh us down and the needs of the community become too great. 

The holidays, though a joyous time for many, can be a difficult time for others.  Some of us will be mourning the loss of a loved one - whether as a result of marital separation, divorce or death; others will spend this holiday season apart from family and friends due to economic constraints or other barriers; and still some of us will be surrounded by family, albeit a dysfunctional one!  So, when you become stressed by the demands of everyday life and the anxiety that this time of year often brings, remember to cast your cares upon Jesus (Psalm 55:22) and to take time for yourself. 

Eating healthily and being physically active are two essential ways to reduce stress, rejuvenate your mind and body, and maintain a healthy weight during the holiday season and beyond.  Our friends at Eat Smart, Move More (ESMM) NC - a statewide coalition promoting healthy eating and physical activity - are challenging us to make health a priority through their Maintain, Don't Gain Holiday Challenge.  The challenge runs from November 22 through December 31.  To participate, visit www.myeatsmartmovemore.com, provide your email address, and start taking advantage of all the ESMM weight management tools.  These include:

  1. A calorie calculator, which takes into account your gender, height, age, current weight in pounds, pants' size, current activity and weight goal (i.e., lose 1-2 lbs. per week, maintain current weight, or gain 1-2 lbs. per week) to determine the number of calories you should ocnsume each day;
  2. A meal planner which gives you the calorie content of your favorite foods, allowing you to plan your meals accordingly;
  3. a food diary to help you keep track of the fods you eat throughout the day;
  4. An activity log where you list your daily activities, how many minutes you spend completing each activity and your level of exertion (i.e., light, moderate or high);
  5. A weight log where you record your ewight at the end of each week, including any comments or tips for the following week;
  6. A list of healthy recipe ingredient substitutions to make your favorite dishes more nutritious, along with other recipe ideas.

Please invite your family, friends, church and/or co-workers to join the ESMM Maintain, Don't Gain Holiday Challenge!  Together, we can lead healthier, more fulfilling lives and reverse the trend toward overweight and obesity in our state.

HEALTH CARE REFORM: THE FIGHT IS NOT OVER

On Tuesday, November 2, many of us fulfilled our civic duty by voting in the mid-term elections, and by night's end, we all witnessed a dramatic shift in the political landscape at the national, state and local levels.  In fact, challenges to the Affordable Care Act, which was signed into law by President Obama earlier this year, have already been initiated.  To get involved and/or to learn more about the benefits of health care reform from a faith perspective, please visit Faithful Reform in Health Care online at: http://www.faithfulreform.org/. 

PROGRAM UPDATE

PHW Certification Program

Congregations across the state are now taking part in the PHW Certification Program, demonstrating that our bodies are God's temple by eating healthier, being more physically active and reducing the impact of smoking on themselves and their neighbors.  To date, forty- nine congregations have achieved Bronze Level Certification by each naming a health contact person, maintaining tobacco free buildings and serving healthier church meals.  The following five churches are the latest to receive this honor, setting a wonderful example for others in the faith community to follow:

  • Holly Springs Baptist Church, Franklin
  • New Birth in Christ Holy Church, Hillsborough
  • Palmer Grove Baptist Church, Kingstown
  • St. Paul Baptist Church, Enfield
  • Watauga Baptist Church, Franklin

To learn more about the PHW Certification Program and how your congregation can get involved, please visit us online at www.healthandwholeness.org.

Clergy Breakfast on Health

On August 26, PHW held its first Clergy Breakfast on Health at St. James African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Zion Church in Goldsboro where Dr. Dwight Cannon serves as pastor.  Twenty-five local pastors and public health professionals were in attendance to learn about health as a practice of our faith, the state of health in Wayne County, and opportunities to improve the lives of clergy and congregants through PHW and other faith-based health initiatives. The Rev. Joseph C. Brown, Sr., Presiding Elder of the A.M.E. Zion Dunn-Lillington District, was the keynote speaker.  The Council will hold similar events across the state in the coming year.  Please join us in a city near you!

New Brand

PHW is proud to present its new logo and tagline, created by Julie Schmidt of yellowDog:creative®, below:


The  logo illustrates the mission of PHW, which is: 1) to promote health as a faith issue (represented by the Jerusalem cross at the center of the logo), 2) to build key partnerships between existing health programs across the state and the Council's 6,200 affiliated churches (represented by the four burgundy-colored hands surrounding the cross), and 3) to facilitate congregations to serve as health promotion centers in the community, helping people of faith to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives (represented by the sun - a symbol of happiness, life and spirituality - that is formed by connecting all of the hands together).

SAMPLE RECIPE

Hearty Turkey Chili

Serves 8

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 2 cups chopped celery
  • 1 cup chopped bell peppers
  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh garlic
  • 1 pound chopped cooked turkey
  • teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seed
  • 2 cups diced canned tomatoes, no salt-added variety
  • 4 cups canned kidney beans, rinsed and drained
  • 2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar

Directions

Preheat the oven to 475° F.

Spray a glass baking dish with cooking spray.  Arrange the zucchini in a single layer in the baking dish.  Roast for 8 to 10 minutes until slightly tender and lightly browned.

While the zucchini is roasting, add the oil and chopped onions to a dutch oven or soup pot.  Sauté over low heat until the onions are browned.  Add the celery and peppers and continue to sauté.  Add garlic, turkey, chili powder and cumin seed.  Cover and simmer for about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, kidney beans, vegetable broth, brown sugar and the roasted zucchini.  Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.

Ladle into warmed individual bowls.  Serve immediately.

Nutritional Analysis (per serving)

Serving size: About 1.5 cups

Calories 277   Cholesterol 43 mg
Protein 26 g
  Sodium 315 mg
Carbohydrate 32 g
  Fiber   9 g
Total fat 5 g   Potassium 764 mg
Saturated fat 1.5 g
  Calcium 84 mg
Monounsaturated fat 2 g
   

Recipe courtesy of the Mayo Clinic
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-recipes/NU00516

LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE

 "Weight Loss Challenge"

Joke courtesy of MediJokes.com

ANNOUNCEMENTS

If you would like to announce an upcoming health event that is taking place at your church or within your community, please email the following information to Willona Stallings at willona@nccouncilofchurches.org: 

  • Date, time and location of the event
  •  Purpose
  • Intended audience
  • Other information that might be of benefit to persons who wish to attend 

THANK YOU!!