New Gardening, Exercise, and Nutrition Program
Date Posted: May 28, 2010
Second Genesis’ nutrition programs are growing by leaps and bounds this year as we focus on dietary adjustments as part of our recovery process. We are helping our clients view healthy eating in a new light through our new ReGen program: Recovery through Gardening, Exercise and Nutrition. Intended to supplement, support and enhance the more clinical aspects of the therapeutic community.
ReGEN is founded on three precepts:
Gardening – Self-worth, a characteristic absent in virtually all addicts and alcoholics, is created through accomplishment. Accomplishment derives from work. Gardening, the production and consumption of one’s own food is work and accomplishment of which to be proud.
Exercise – “The World’s Best Stress Reliever,” improves the facility to think clearly, an ability essential to recovery.
Nutrition – A healthy, balanced diet provides the body and the mind the ability to heal quickly. People with chemical dependency may tend to make poor nutrition choices for a variety of reasons.
In April, Harvard St built two raised beds 4’ by 8’ in the backyard with donated supplies from Home Depot. Staff pitched in to plant tomatoes, green beans, beets lettuce, cucumbers, peppers, and all sorts of herbs. The clients get to manage the garden with help from our Kitchen Manager, Hugo Gadea. The veggies will be in the salad bar every day and as a feature on Vegetarian Mondays.
At our D.C. outpatient facility, Tiana Matthews teaches nutrition education each Thursday to our adolescents on how to make the best food choices with limited resources. All of the teens get healthy snacks and a weekend bag to bridge the gap of meals that aren’t covered by the free lunch and breakfast school program.
Both of our DC facilities are part of the Sister Hook Up Program with AU Bon Pain which delivers bread goods a few times a week for breakfast and snacks. Au Bon Pain also helps to support monthly birthday celebrations for the clients through donating cupcakes.
At Mellwood, in nutrition education class every Thursday, adults learn about a nutrition health topic and learn how to practically apply it. They are currently learning about anti-oxidants (making bran muffins with wheat germs). Last week, they learned about whole grains and how to read food labels while making bread pudding with whole wheat bread and raisins. Katie Garriott, our Director of Nutrition Services, is trying to be thrifty, healthy, and tasty in her recipe choices. The clients are learning how to make pie crust, homemade pizza dough, and rice pudding. This week, they will talk about proteins in the food diet pyramid and make a quiche while learning about different uses of pie crusts. Our Director of Nutrition Services met with the Director of EcoOffshoots about the viability of bringing in a high tunnel/greenhouse to plant produce that will be used for Mellwood clients. They discussed building a high tunnel, or greenhouse, on our property that will be cultivated by clients with help from EcoOffshoots farmers. The Crownsville House is beginning a gardening partnership with the Biophilia Foundation, a foundation dedicated to helping people to re-connect with the earth. A Biophilia Foundation group leader will conduct a weekly group. Long range plans include: planting a garden this year and exploring a facility-wide composting and recycling plan. Our partnerships with community leaders such as Kid’s Café, AU Bon Pain and Biophilia, help us encourage healthy eating through their donations of food, supplies, and other professional services.
