Body and Soul Toolkit Introduction

Body and Soul
A Celebration of Healthy Eating and Living
Online Toolkit

HELLO EVERYONE! The Florida Department of Health Office of Minority Health is promoting healthy eating and physical activity by providing the National Cancer Institute developed Body and Soul Wellness Program as an Online Toolkit for African American churches. Body and Soul is a faith-based initiative to encourage African Americans to eat a healthy diet as part of an active lifestyle. Designed to help African Americans take charge of their health, “Body & Soul; A Celebration of Healthy Eating & Living” promotes the national recommendation for Americans to eat 5 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day for better health. The Body and Soul Online Toolkit guide explains how to run the program in the church. It explains how to create a Body and Soul program to fit your congregation. The toolkit consists of handouts, information and other resources.

What is Body and Soul

Body and Soul is a wellness program developed for African American churches. The program encourages church members to eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables every day for better health. Churches that embrace Body and Soul help their members take care of their bodies as well as their spirits. The church is one of the most powerful elements to African American culture, and clergy leaders are key influencers to their congregations.

Why Body and Soul

African Americans are at greatest risk for every major health disparity and diet related disease. These include many types of cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. They also are least likely among other population groups to make a connection between fruit and vegetable consumption and reduced risk for disease, particularly cancer. What can you do to lower your risk for disease? A diet rich in fruits and vegetables promotes good health and lowers the risk for these illnesses. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables may be one of the easiest things you can do to improve your health.

The Benefits of Body and Soul to your Church

Body & Soul churches embrace and celebrate good health through healthy eating. Your congregation will:

• Learn how health and spirituality are connected
• Feel empowered to take charge of their health
• Eat more fruits and vegetables every day
• Live healthier in other ways, such as eating less fat and getting more physical activity
• Gain access to vital health information at the church

Body & Soul’s real success lies with the committed, hardworking members of African American churches across the state. Your energy and vision will bring about much-needed changes. As a result, Body & Soul will improve the health of church members every day. So talk to your Pastor about this great program that can help improve the health of your congregation. Let Get Started and Get Healthy!!!

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