Page 51 - Today's Dietitian (March 2020)

We recognize that we aren’t going to talked about have always been our flag- those shows up to date. What we’d really
be able to modify behavior unless we’re ship effort, we also started to recognize like to do is create shorter cooking seg-
meeting people where they’re at. that we needed to make even more of ments and get them on our website, so
an effort to get out into the community. we’re currently looking for a sponsor to
TD: What are the programs and services That’s when the idea for the Fresh Stop help fund that. The idea of the show has
through which you serve minority Mobile Farmer’s Market—which is the always been to broaden and expand our
populations? Fresh Stop Bus—was born. It is a city wings by reaching more people. With a
Weaver: We have several programs bus that was donated and gutted to be show, we can really spread our message
under the Hebni main umbrella. Our turned into a mobile farmer’s market to so much farther. In the future, I’d also
nutrition resource center is where we reach underserved populations that live love to create an all-Spanish version.
have a state-of-the-art kitchen and we in food deserts and are food insecure. It’s
teach cooking classes. As part of that, currently in its fifth year. Our Fresh Stop TD: How can other dietitians who
we have Project Oasis, an eight-week Bus also visits the corporate companies are interested in better serving
wellness program that targets minority we work with, as those who are working communities of color get more
populations and features classes taught may still be food insecure. We’re provid- involved?
by dietitians. Project Oasis teaches par- ing access to fresh produce at a reduced Weaver: First and foremost, you must
ticipants how to cook healthful food cost at their place of work. look at the diversity of your practice. You
with more fruits and vegetables. Each Just recently, we have begun work cannot ignore the brownness of your
week, participants receive a recipe card on incorporating an urban farm into community. It’s often hard for people
for the meal that was prepared in class, our practice that will provide produce to take advice from those that don’t
plus a bag of the ingredients and even for the bus. Zion Farm, which is located look like them—particularly when they
cooking utensils to take home. We also in an impoverished downtown area, don’t have any educational resources
have a Spanish version of Project Oasis has started growing our fruits and that meet their specific needs. Bring
as well as a men-only version. vegetables. in a new dietitian and see what they
We also target kids with our KYDS can do for you. At Hebni, bringing in
[Keeping Your Diet Straight] Take TD: What are some of the most Celines Martinez, MS, RD, LD, to reach
Charge after-school program, which memorable moments you and your our Hispanic population was one of
helps underserved elementary and team have experienced? the best things we ever did. Of course,
middle school students who are at risk of Weaver: There are too many to name, we recognize bringing in another
obesity. That program is funded through but I would say that most of them come dietitian isn’t feasible for everyone, so I
the United States Tennis Association from the tangible changes that we see in will say, it’s so important to know your
and gives us the opportunity to talk to peoples’ lives—such as when we do pre community. And they need to know you,
kids about nutrition while also getting and post [-intervention] data measure- too. They need to be able to respect and
them active with free tennis lessons. ments. A 300-lb client that we had was trust you. If you can remove the fear that
Healthy Soles is our exercise walk- one of the heaviest to begin our Project people might have in coming to see a
ing program, and that’s specifically tar- Oasis nutrition class, and, in the eight- dietitian, you’ll find that so much will
geted to residents in Eatonville, Florida, week period, she lost 22 lbs. She told us fall into place. Get out there and get to
which is the oldest black town in the that all she needed was that “nudge” that know the people you’re trying to serve.
state of Florida. Twenty-six percent of we provided. So often, people just need
the residents in that town are living with that starting point—and someone who TD: How has your faith impacted your
diabetes, so we’re hopeful that this pro- believes in them. work and life?
gramming can help make a difference in Weaver: Faith has gotten me very far.
those numbers. TD: You also cohost an African There have been many times I’ve gone
We also have a Corporate Well- American cooking show. How did that home and cried due to frustrations we’ve
ness program that helps provide well- get started, and what is its mission? faced. There was one year, in particu-
ness strategies to companies. Here in Weaver: The cooking show, called lar, where we were struggling with fund-
Orlando, we obviously have a large popu- Health and Fitness Now, was cohosted ing and I was so afraid that we would
lation of service workers working within with [cofounder] Fabiola. We actu- close—and we got funded two grants
the hospitality industry, and many of ally cohosted several cooking shows right before the year came to a close.
them are considered the “working poor.” in Orlando, and, on occasion, we also All I could say was, “God is good.” When
Just because you have a job doesn’t mean included my twin sister. It was shown you do the right thing, for the right
you have access healthful food choices locally on the government channel for reason, things do tend to come together.
or information. all to see because it was a free station— Of course, I also have an amazing staff
and it also broadcasted in Tallahas- and we all work hand in hand toward
TD: You also have the Fresh Stop Mobile see, Florida, on its government channel. a common goal. As we’ve grown, we’ve
Farmer’s Market—tell us about this Right now, the cooking show is airing grown together. n
program? as reruns that are shown at the Orange
Weaver: While the nutrition resource County hospital. But we’re in the pro- Lindsey Getz is an award-winning freelance
center and our programming that I just cess of looking into how we can bring writer based in Royersford, Pennsylvania.
MARCH 2020 • WWW.TODAYSDIETITIAN.COM 51