STEP Office of Aging to Host Healthy Lifestyle Series
As more and more people live longer lives, there’s real interest in assuring that our later years are healthy ones.
With that in mind, senior citizens in Clinton and Lycoming counties are encouraged to participate in a new program designed to promote healthy lifestyles through healthy eating. The “Healthy Aging through Local Harvest” initiative is a pilot program being offered by the STEP Office of Aging, thanks to a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Aging.
“This is an exciting new venture,” says Jane Thompson, STEP Office of Aging health, nutrition, and fitness coordinator. “The Healthy Aging workshops will be a fun, hands-on way for seniors to not only learn about the health benefits of eating fresh fruits and vegetables, but also be able to put that know-how into action to improve their lives.”
Thompson says there is evidence of the need for such a program.
“We conduct nutrition risk assessments on every person who eats meals at one of STEP’s eight senior community centers in the two counties. When asked if they are eating recommended daily portions of fruits and vegetables, the answer, generally, is ‘no,’ so the Healthy Aging program is a way for us to help meet that need.”
STEP is partnering with local health and nutrition experts Mindful Harvest of Williamsport to conduct the weekly, 90-minute workshops throughout 2015. Sessions will be held Wednesdays from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. at the STEP Clinton County Community Center, 124 East Walnut Street, Lock Haven. The first workshop is scheduled for February 18.
Participants will learn about the availability of fresh foods from local farms, how to prepare and cook healthy snacks and meals, and how to garden with their health in mind. Sessions will include topics such as kitchen basics, making healthy soups and stocks, homemade dressings, pastas and grains, delicious and healthy treats, classic recipes with healthy twists, planning meals with seasonal ingredients, cooking for one, and meal planning on a budget. Each workshop will focus on a different topic and will feature activities such as cooking demonstrations, group cooking experiences, taste testing, and even gardening activities.
Thompson emphasizes that the program is open to seniors in both Clinton and Lycoming counties. She says people needing transportation to the Clinton County Community Center can make arrangements through STEP.
There is no cost to participate in the Healthy Aging workshops, but people are required to register in advance so that workshop leaders will have adequate supplies for participants. People can register by contacting the Clinton County Community Center at 570-858-5800.
STEP, Inc. is one of 1,100 Community Action Agencies nationwide, and a member of the Community Action Association of Pennsylvania. Formally known as the Lycoming-Clinton Counties Commission for Community Action (STEP), Inc., the agency is celebrating its 49th year of service to the community. The mission of STEP, Inc. is to engage diverse individuals, families, and communities in the pursuit of social and economic success. STEP, Inc.’s mission is accomplished through five Pathways to Success, including: Early Learning, Housing Options, Workforce Development, Community Collaboration, and Independent Living.
The STEP Office of Aging is part of STEP’s Independent Living Pathway to Success. For more information on the programs offered by STEP, visit www.stepcorp.org.
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PHOTO CUTLINES:
Sally Rizzo from Mindful Harvest, pictured at the table, meets with seniors at STEP senior community centers in Clinton and Lycoming counties to talk about the “Healthy Aging through Local Harvest” series which gets underway this month. Rizzo and partner Abbey Eschbach are leading the Wednesday workshops, which promote a healthier life through healthier eating.
