Dan Buron introduced his wife, Christine, representing the Lenawee Health Network who spoke to members about nutrition in Lenawee County and focused specifically on the recommendation to eat a combination of at least 5 fruits and vegetables a day. Christine admitted to eating processed food as she was growing up and that she liked eating Little Debbie’s and Captain Crunch! It was around the time she and Dan decided to start a family, she said, that she knew it was important to change her eating habits but had to develop a taste for veggies over time.
She shared with the audience the three primary initiatives of the Lenawee Health Network (LHN) that were the by-product of the Heath Needs Assessment conducted in 2011 through the local schools. The initiatives are: (1) To improve diet and exercise (2) To reduce risky behavior and (3) Access to health care. The “Eat 5 Campaign” was born out of initiative #1 she said but that the National Cancer Society originally recommended that people eat a combination of 5 fruits and veggies in order to lower the risk of cancer.
Some startling statistics Christine shared with us were:
13% of our youth are clinically obese
15% of our youth are not getting what they need in terms of fruits and vegetables on a daily basis
She said that a “serving” of, say, raisins is not that much at all. It’s only about a quarter of a cup. People who don’t think they could ever consume what is recommended daily should have no trouble at all complying with the recommendations.
She suggested everyone “avoid drive thru’s” even though McDonald’s restaurants now have healthier choices on their menu compared to the past. A good visual she shared was of the average dinner plate and said that healthy meals should consist of fruits and veggies consuming approximately half of the plate with the actual entrée occupying the rest.
Sources available to us for fresh vegetables, she said, in addition to the local grocery store were farmer’s markets as well as the LHN Veggie Mobile which is essentially a “farmer’s market on wheels”! Christine concluded her presentation by mentioning the LHN’s “Taking the Pledge” program where those committed to beginning and sticking to the “Eat 5 Campaign” sign a certificate pledging to do just that.
July 31- Board meeting at the Lenawee Country Club beginning at 11:00 am.
August 14– Purity, the young woman selected from the St. Clare School for Girls in Kenya, will be arriving and a shower is being planned at Rhonda Gage's home that day. The shower will provide Purity with essentail items she will need while in this country. Another shower will take place a couple of weeks later, she said. Anyone wishing to be part of that special event is asked to contact Patty Clark. Purity will begin classes at Siena Heights on August 18. Patty also mentioned that Fr. Riwa sent a CD of the St. Francis Boys and St. Clare Girls combined choir if any member would like to hear it.
August 15 – Devils Lake Social. All county Rotary clubs are invited to attend. Still time to sign up. It will be a great evening. Mark's band, Alias, will be playing!
September 15– River Raisin Cleanup. Need Volunteers.
September 25– DG Liz Smith to visit our club for the first time in her new position.
September 29 – District Golf Outing.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
President Elect Rod read a thank you letter from Haven Schafer, recipient of a scholarship from our club saying how pleased she was for the support and that she will be transferring from TU to attend Siena Heights University in the fall.
The District Directory is available to all now. Be sure and get one if you have not already. Extensive info on all clubs in our district available at your fingertips!
A big GET WELL SOON to Frank Locke!
GUESTS
Speakers Christine MacNaughton and Ashley LaVigne; Bob Behnke, guest of Lisa Wilkie; Jennifer Frost, guest of Anna Marie Anzalone.