Health starts — long before illness — in our homes, families, neighborhoods, schools and jobs. Source magazine explores the positive impacts of Extension’s health and nutrition education programs.
EFNEP* program at Banyan Community delivers hands-on education and inspiration for healthy living.
It’s almost 6 p.m. on a school night at Banyan Community. The first-floor cafeteria is filled with the sounds of kids playing in the gym next door and two teens chat in Spanglish as they slowly pack up their homework and vacate the tables.
Roberto Martinez, senior EFNEP health and wellness coordinator, waits for his class to arrive at a kitchen counter covered in cutting boards and colorful ingredients. Unlike most of the other students in the building, his students are adults. For the next two hours, Roberto guides a small group of Latina moms through a packed agenda that includes nutrition education, an exercise routine, a cooking demonstration and a shared meal in good company.
This six-week interactive health and nutrition program is designed to help families develop skills, attitudes and behaviors necessary to maintain a healthy diet and stay active — and it works. In fact, 92% of EFNEP participants reported eating more fruits and vegetables, and 88% said they now read nutrition labels and make healthier food choices.
Building community one class at a time
Roberto is quick to point out that the success of EFNEP programs wouldn’t be possible without collaboration from local partners like Banyan Community, which serves more than 200 households in the Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis. While their main goal is to promote youth development through after-school, early childhood and academic support programs, they also offer classes for adults.
Roberto conducts the class in Spanish, making health and wellness education accessible to the majority-Latino population that Banyan serves. He has worked with the organization since 2016 and built strong relationships in the community.
“Banyan is an excellent partner for Extension because we both bring families together,” says Roberto. “The leadership and staff there see the value of our programs and really support us with everything we need, helping us recruit participants and letting us use their commercial kitchen and meeting rooms.”
He notes that one of the most rewarding aspects of his job is creating an environment where people feel safe and welcome. “This space is a release from stress at work and home. It’s much more than just the recipes, it’s the time spent connecting and working together,” says Roberto.
Making healthy eating an easy choice
For participant Rosa, her motivation for enrolling in the six-week program started as an investment in her own health. “I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic and when I came [to Banyan] and they told me about the cooking classes, I said to myself, “Yes, this is something that my doctor told me to do — change my diet.”
It took only one session for Rosa to decide that she had to share what she was learning with her three kids at home. “I’ve taken four classes already, and I’ve learned so much from all of them,” says Rosa.
Rosa especially appreciated the weekly meal planning and preparation tips. She now spends less time cooking each day and can focus on enjoying her family.
“I have made the change in my house with my refrigerator, and for me it has inspired me a lot,” says Rosa. “I want to educate my children from an early age to learn how to eat healthy and take care of their immune system.”
“I am very grateful to the teacher because he has helped me personally a lot,” Rosa says.
Setting a strong example
Judith signed up for the Extension class because she wanted to know more about nutrition science and vegetarian cooking. “I'm happy because we've made several meals, and instead of using meat, we add other proteins — like beans or eggs — or prepare them in different ways,” she says.
She’s excited to share what she has learned with people in her life, especially her daughter. “We set an example for our families and friends by telling them to try and eat more vegetables and stay healthier and avoid illnesses,” says Judith.
*Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program
A healthier Minnesota
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