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Breaking Bread, And Bad Habits, With Healthier Family Recipes

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By MARY SHEDDEN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 20, 2008

Breaking bread is a huge part of any family gathering.

But some health advocates hope there will be less bread and more fruits and vegetables served to loved ones.

This summer, the Hillsborough County Health Department launched a free family reunion health education program for county residents or families holding their reunions in town, says heath nutrition consultant Barbara Roberts. Its focus: the food you eat.

"We talk a lot about the things you inherit from your family," Roberts says. "Yes, you inherit the risk for chronic disease, but you also inherit cooking styles and eating habits."

Health screenings and educational games and activities are at the center of the health department's "Healthy Tree, Healthy Fruit" program, but it also offers an opportunity for families to create a healthful cookbook featuring favorite family recipes. (The American Stroke Association's reunion program highlights wellness publications that include "47 Healthy Soul Food Recipes.")

"We're going to do an extreme recipe makeover," Roberts says of the offer, which involves family members submitting recipes ahead of time so that dietitians can tweak the ingredients to lower fat, sugars and calories.

People interested in participating in the Healthy Tree program must register at least a month in advance. Dietitians try to make small changes to the recipes, substituting meatless crumbles for ground beef, for example, in a spaghetti recipe. Other times, they might suggest a fruit parfait instead of shortcake.

For more information about family reunions and health education:

•Healthy Tree, Healthy Fruit Program - Contact the Hillsborough County Health Department at (813) 307-8015, ext. 7103

•Family Reunion Health Guide - Contact the National Kidney Disease Education Program at http://nkdep.nih.gov/familyreunion/index.htm

•The Power to End Stroke - Contact the American Stroke Association at http://www.strokeassociation.org/presenter.jhtml?i...

Keyword: Recipe Makeovers for examples of Extreme Recipe Makeovers, or to submit your own and to see examples from the Stroke Association's healthy soul food cookbook.

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