Little by Little

A couple of weeks ago the nursing students from Montgomery County Community College visited Manna. On a regular basis, Pam Pfalzer a professor of nursing at the college, brings students to do health checks for the guests. In addition to doing blood pressure checks, the students were also measuring blood sugar levels.

One of the more interesting outcomes of their visit was a discussion with an individual who has had a life-long battle with obesity. It turns out that over the past six months he has lost about 50 pounds. He couldn't say that he was doing anything differently, but, he was happy about the change. While he may be unaware, there is one thing that has changed significantly in the past six months: Manna has been serving healthier meals. We have eliminated most of the sweets available, and each meal usually includes one fruit or vegetable. In addition, the volunteers are more aware of portion control and there are more discussions about eating healthier foods.

Pam noted the importance of our clients being in a supportive environment, one that encourages them to think differently about their lifestyle. She recommend we continue with the approach to not pressure them to change, but simply offer them suggestions and alternatives. Little by little, we can make a big difference...