Feed. It’s one of the cornerstone messages of St. Vincent de Paul. However, SVdP’s goal is not just to feed those we serve, but also to educate with nutritional guidance from our Family Wellness Program. The health and wellness of families is at the forefront of our mission, which is why it’s important for families to establish healthy eating habits at an early age. One in three children in the United States is overweight or obese. Childhood obesity puts kids at risk for health problems like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. Since September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, Maria Silva, manager of the Family Wellness Program at SVdP, decided the best place to start the conversation on healthy eating was with lunch. She and her team of dietitians gave healthy makeovers to simple lunch recipes that taste good and incorporate a nutritional balance of vegetables, proteins and grains. 
“Today, we’re making a chicken wrap. It’s a super easy recipe that’s perfect to pack for lunch,” Maria says as she lays her ingredients on the table. SVdP’s Family Evening Meal is playing host to a workshop where parents and kids can learn how to prepare and serve healthy meals at home.
“One of the things we are trying to do is increase awareness in the community about healthy eating,” she explains. “There is this misconception that if we eat healthy that means it has to taste bad, and that’s not true.” Maria’s goal is to provide parents and their kids with a solid foundation and knowledge good nutrition. She wants families to know that making smarter choices is a long term commitment but it doesn’t mean completely cutting out things you love to eat. Instead, it’s about smart choices.
“The theory is, if I can give you something you’re familiar with and pair it with something unfamiliar, you are more than likely to eat it,” which is the case today. Maria has taken familiar ingredients: a tortilla, chicken, cheese slices and a touch of mayo, then paired it with something unfamiliar: vegetables. It’s a dance in moderation. Healthy eating doesn’t mean giving up cheese or mayonnaise; it’s being aware of how much you add to your dish. “Parents ask me all the time if things like mayonnaise are bad. Well, there’s nothing necessarily wrong with mayonnaise, the problem is if you have more mayonnaise than everything else on your plate, then it’s bad.”
Maria’s class is a part of a larger program at SVdP that promotes a healthy lifestyle at home. “We cover everything. This month we focused on a food experience, but we also provide education on exercise, hydration, and how to cook something at home,” Maria explains. “Anything we think the families can benefit from, we’re going to make that happen for them.”
The lesson comes to a close and now it’s time for kids and their parents to make a wrap of their own. Take-home recipes are provided, so families can try their hand and making these recipes at home. “These recipes are things families can incorporate into their daily living as life is changing and their routine is changing.” Maria hopes these classes make eating a pleasant time. Rather than spending time arguing over the meal, she hopes families will take the time to cook together, eat together, and try something new together. “We teach parents and kids their roles and responsibilities in eating, so they know that you’re not a cop. You are there to help and that means you have to be the model to begin with.” As the kids dive into their wraps with beaming smiles, it’s clear that trying something new never tasted so good!
Feeling hungry? Try one of Maria’s lunch recipes below!
Chicken Wrap
Cooking time: 10 minutes Total time: 15 minutes Portions: 1
Ingredients:
½ cup grapes sliced in half
½ cup diced apple
½ chicken breast cooked and diced in cubes
2 table spoons of nuts chopped
½ celery stalk diced
3 table spoons unflavored Greek yogurt
¼ cup spinach
1 whole grain tortilla
Instructions:
1. In a bowl mix the grapes, Apple, nuts, celery, chicken, and yogurt
2. Place the tortilla on a plate and add the spinach followed by the chicken mix
3. Roll the tortilla like a burrito
4. The wrap is ready to enjoy!
Wrap de Ensalada de Pollo
Tiempo para cocinar: 10 minutos Tiempo total: 15 minutos Porciones: 1
Ingredientes:
½ taza de uvas picadas por la mitad
½ taza de manzana picada
½ pechuga de pollo cocida y picada
2 cucharadas de nueces molidas
½ varita de apio picada
3 cucharadas de yogur griego sin sabor
¼ de taza de espinacas
1 tortilla de trigo integral
Modo de preparación:
1. Mezcla las uvas, manzana, pollo, nueces, apio y yogur.
2. Colocar las espinacas y la mezcla del paso anterior en la tortilla.
3. Enrolla la tortilla en forma de burrito.
4. ¡El wrap de los niños está listo para disfrutar!
