Last summer, a few folks from St. Peter who had heard about Dan Buettner’s book The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who’ve Lived the Longest got together to talk about his ideas. The book’s subtitle tells the brief story. Dan Buettner visited and interviewed people in four communities around the world to find out what their citizens do to live such long and happy lives.
The simple things they do everyday provide the answers: the food they eat, the company they keep, and how they spend their time. These things were more important even than access to the latest medical technology in helping people reach old age with fewer diseases and a better quality of life.
After much discussion on what the first project could be, the group (Action for a Healthy Community) decided to promote a program called St. Peter Eats, modeled after the successful St. Peter Reads program. St. Peter Eats highlights one superfood a month and provides educational information and recipes surrounding that item. Superfoods are foods found in nature that are low in calorie and high in nutrition. They provide an excellent supply of antioxidants and essential nutrients that everyone needs. They aren’t expensive, highly processed, or cooked into complicated dishes. Best of all, these foods are easy to find and taste delicious!
We invite you to include a superfood into your diet each month. Visit this web page or the co-op for recipes and tips to incorporate each of the foods into your diet.
Click here for this week’s recipe!
This program is supported by Action for a Healthy Community, a group of local citizens whose mission is “to create a healthier community.” Call Tami Skinner or Teresa Saum at Community Education (934-3048 Ext. 238) if you are interested in talking more about a healthier community!
