The City of Brantford, and its community partners, will be hosting a series of free programs that encourage older adults (aged 55-plus) to learn more about nutrition and wellness in celebration of National Nutrition Month in March.
“Nutrition is an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and is vital to enhancing and improving the health of our aging population,” explained Makeda Kafele-Green, Program Coordinator, at Grand River Community Health Centre. “We are excited to partner with the City of Brantford to offer a variety of free programs for seniors to learn, grow, and experience the importance of nutrition and meet others in the community.”
The first program, Healthy Eating on a Budget, will occur on Tuesday, March 5 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Doug Snooks Eagle Place Community Centre. The Brant Community Food Educators will lead a presentation on healthy eating on a budget with a focus on Canada’s Food Guide. Participants will receive take-home recipes that are both health and budget-friendly.
Yoga, Nutrition and Wellness will occur on Tuesday March 12 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Brantford Public Library. Join certified yoga teacher Joy VanderVlist for a gentle and accessible yoga session with the support of a chair while discussing the importance of stretching for your bone and muscle health, the importance of drinking water and how yoga ties in with nutrition.
Introduction to Growing a Food Garden at Home will take place on Tuesday, March 19 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Woodman Park Community Centre. Join Equal Ground Community Gardens to learn how to implement a food garden in your own home. You’ll learn about how to plan and plant a food garden, maintaining the garden in an ergonomic way, and utilizing seasonal produce in your kitchen. Equal Ground will also share information and resources about their various gardening programs and how you can get involved, as well as sharing a number of seed packets for you to take home.
Nutrition for Your Bones will take place on Wednesday, March 27 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Grand River Community Health Centre. Join Melissa Siegel, Registered Dietitian for a cooking demonstration and learn the nutrition recommendations and lifestyle tips to support your bone health as you age. Registration is required for this program. Contact Melissa Siegel, RD at msiegel@grchc.ca or 519-754-0777 ext. 479
Flavors of Brantford Cooking Class will be held on March 7, 14, 21, and 28 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Grand River Community Health Centre. Join this unique and fun program that brings you different flavors from Brantford every week! Learn how to cook simple and diverse meals that you can try at home. Explore creative culinary possibilities with this cooking program and learn about the diversity of cuisine in Brantford.
For all events hosted at Grand River Community Health Centre, parking is available behind the Grand River Community Health Centre building at the corner of Alfred Street and East Avenue or a second lot is available across the street at the Colborne Street and Alfred Street intersection.
Space is limited, and registration for each activity, except for the Nutrition for your Bone’s Cooking Demo, is required by emailing partnerships@brantford.ca or by calling 519-759-4150 ext. 5986 and leaving a message with your name, contact information and which activities you would like to attend. Learn more at Brantford.ca/NutritionMonth.
Remaining active and connected to our community, supports improving our overall well-being. Prioritizing seniors’ health and wellness, and developing events and programs that celebrate inclusion and diversity, are both key components of the City’s Healthy Aging and Inclusive Community Plans. These activities allow older adults to learn about and celebrate their health and cultural wellness, while participating in programming that encourages community connections.
