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‘Eating better’

Health coach gives BEi a taste of healthy food choices

Times Observer photo by Lorri Drumm Justin, a client at Bollinger Enterprises, enjoyed what he called a “delicious” salad during a Health Fair held on Friday at the North Warren location.

As tables filled with clients, staff and guests gobbled up salad, baked chicken and peaches on Friday. And health coach Christine Smith loaded them with ideas to make healthy food choices part of a daily routine.

“Think about the whole big picture and think of just a couple changes you can make,” Smith suggested as a way to adjust to a change in choosing what to eat. “Think of something that fits your lifestyle; something you want to do.”

“We planted a seed today with Bill today,” Smith said of BEi client Bill Dies. “We’ll see if he can switch his breakfast from a waffle with peanut butter to an apple with peanut butter.”

The first Health Fair held at BEi (Bollinger Enterprises, Inc.) was organized by program specialists Jeanine Valencia and Jim Turner.

“February is Heart Health Month and we wanted to do a fundraiser,” Valencia said. “We’d like it to become an annual event.”

Times Observer photo by Lorri Drumm Staff, clients and guests at Bollinger Enterprises in lined up for a healthy lunch of salad, baked chicken, peaches and water during a Health Fair held at the North Warren location on Friday.

All proceeds from the lunch will be donated to the American Heart Association.

Prior to serving lunch, Valencia mentioned to Smith the popularity of soda among a lot of the BEi clients. Smith started the informal lunch and learn event by explaining the importance of limiting soda consumption.

Smith found a soda can on a table among the many water bottles served with Friday’s lunch.

“There are 39 grams of sugar in this soda,” she said. “The American Heart Association recommends women should have not more than 24 grams of sugar per day. This one can have more sugar in it than I should have in a whole day.”

“What’s the big deal,” Smith asked those in attendance.

Times Observer photo by Lorri Drumm Staff, clients and guests at Bollinger Enterprises in lined up for a healthy lunch of salad, baked chicken, peaches and water during a Health Fair held at the North Warren location on Friday.

Dies replied that soda makes him “jittery.”

Smith added that too much sugar intake can increase your risk of a heart attack.

Smith then asked for some suggestions of alternatives for soda.

“What else can you drink,” she asked.

Replies included unsweetened iced tea with lemon and water. Smith also suggested adding a bit of fruit juice to water to give it flavor as opposed to pre-flavored water.

Times Observer photo by Lorri Drumm (BEI 1,2) Health Coach Christine Smith advised staff, clients and guests at Bollinger Enterprises in North Warren how to make healthy food choices during a Health Fair on Friday. Proceeds from the fair/lunch benefit the American Heart Association.

“Have you ever tried Vitamin Water,” she asked. “It has 32 grams of sugar. That’s more than the can of soda.”

In addition to sharing some thoughts on what not to eat or drink, Smith passed out handouts that included a color-coded guide of what to eat in order for foods that are part of a healthy diet.

“This list isn’t calorie-restricted,” she added. “It’s not intended for weight loss. That would include portion control.”

The good-to-eat food list included lots of colors. Smith asked each person who got the list to take it home and check off the foods they eat.

“You got a good start today,” Smith said as she told those in attendance they should be eating 10 servings of vegetables per day. “You got about a third of your vegetables in today’s salad.”

BEi Executive Director William Clark concluded the fair by asking for a round of applause for Turner’s cooking. Clark said Friday’s fair went a long way toward meeting BEi’s goals for its clients and staff.

“We want you to come to a place where you enjoy working,” Clark said.

The other two goals are increased exposure to the arts and to “eat better.”

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