LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – While eating right is important for everyone, it’s not optional for diabetics.
“Healthy eating is one of the most crucial ways diabetics can take control of their health and manage their disease,” said Teresa Conner, Baptist Health Community Outreach manager. “But how to choose and prepare healthy food options is often hard for those trying to change lifelong eating habits.”
To help address this issue, Baptist Health Community Outreach is hosting a special cooking demonstration and healthy eating class on Nov. 10 from 5 to 6 p.m. at Liberty Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Little Rock. Registered Dietician Michele Higgins will be the guest speaker for the event.
Higgins, who has been a dietitian for 16 years, will prepare a healthy dish and participants will be able to sample it. She will also discuss healthy cooking tips, nutritious food substitutions, and the importance of portion control.
While the class targets diabetics, anyone can attend and will benefit from the information. All participants will receive a free healthy cookbook.
Liberty Hill Missionary Church is one of 18 Baptist Health Community Wellness Centers. These centers provide free health screenings and services such as blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol screenings; diabetes, prenatal, tobacco, health and weight management education classes; immunizations and flu shots; and community referrals and care coordination for underserved Arkansans. The purpose of the wellness centers is to help local residents prevent common health problems through education and screenings for early detection and treatment.
The Liberty Hill Missionary Church Wellness Center is open the second Monday of the month from 3 to 6 p.m. at 1215 South Schiller Street and is operated by community health nurses. On Nov. 10, residents needing health screenings are encouraged to come between 3 and 5 p.m. (before the nutritional class begins).
With more than 175 points of access, including eight hospitals, Baptist Health is committed to delivering “All Our Best” in healthcare to the people of Arkansas. For more information about Baptist Health’s community wellness centers, call Baptist Health HealthLine at 1-888-BAPTIST.