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A Taste of African Heritage Program Introduced at Ten Sites

BOSTON, April, 2015 — To increase the quality of life for residents at its affordable housing communities, The NHP Foundation and Operation Pathways, Inc. are partnering with the nonprofit food and nutrition organization Oldways to introduce A Taste of African Heritage (ATOAH), a culturally-based cooking and wellness program to ten sites across the country.

Based on three years of success, Oldways is expanding its national ATOAH program to include the Operation Pathways partnership and a new follow-up component to the six-week cooking class series for greater long-term support. The free classes, which will help residents explore the powerful health benefits of traditional African Heritage foods, start the week of April 20 at the following locations:

  • Bayview Towers Apartments, Stamford, CT
  • Bolton North Apartments, Baltimore, MD
  • Cleme Manor Apartments, Houston, TX
  • Forest Park Apartments, New Orleans, LA
  • Foxwood Manor Apartments, Levittown, PA
  • Heritage Square Apartments, Dallas, TX
  • Hollybush Gardens Apartments, Glassboro, NJ
  • Ship’s Cove Apartments, Fall River, MA
  • St. Luke’s Plaza Apartments, St. Louis, MO
  • The Grove at Trinity Mills, Dallas, TX

“We have seen measurable positive health impacts on participants who have connected to the rich history and healthy roots of African culture and traditional cuisine,” said Sara Baer-Sinnott, president, Oldways. “By instilling cooking confidence and teaching basic skills for preparing culturally-relevant regular home-cooked meals, we want to introduce residents to new flavors and show that healthy foods can not only be healthy, but they can also taste delicious.”

In 2013-2014, Oldways coordinated one hundred A Taste of African Heritage class series throughout the country, reaching roughly 1,000 participants. Participants showed marked improvement in healthy behaviors and biomarkers including:

  • Increased vegetable consumption
  • Increased cooking
  • Reduced weight, waist circumference and blood pressure

Research supports that those at greater risk of chronic diseases can improve their health by eating healthier, especially through plant-based diets.

ATOAH, made possible through a grant from the Walmart Foundation, is a series of six classes designed to bring Oldways African Heritage Diet Pyramid to life, allowing participants to “meet” the major foods of the pyramid (i.e., spices, greens, whole grains, beans/rice, tubers/stews and fruits/vegetables) and to learn how to easily prepare them.  For the first time, following the initial six classes, Operation Pathway locations will introduce ten additional workshops, delivered monthly and bi-monthly, offering participants longer-term support and the chance to reconnect over traditional foods, exciting nutrition topics, and continued celebration of heritage.  Workshops will share more wisdom from the “old ways” such as how to pickle and preserve fresh produce, how to eat locally and seasonally on a budget, and how to enjoy water-based African heritage drinks, like teas and fruit infusions.

“Operation Pathways is thrilled to be building on our wonderful partnership with Oldways,” said Ken White, Executive Director of Operation Pathways. “We are always looking for innovative and interactive ways to expand the health and wellness programing we offer the low- to moderate- income families we serve, and Oldways’ A Taste of African Heritage program is a perfect fit.”

For 25 years, Oldways has been dedicated to promoting the powerful health benefits, affordability, and delicious flavors found in traditional plant-based diets worldwide. For more information on attending A Taste of African Heritage Cooking Classes, please contact Sarah McMackin, Oldways program manager, 512-330-0111, sarahm@oldwayspt.org.

About Oldways
Oldways (www.oldwayspt.org) is a nonprofit food and nutrition education organization, with a mission to guide people to good health through cultural food traditions and lifestyles, using practical and positive programs grounded in science. Simply, we advocate for the healthful pleasures of real food. Oldways is the parent organization for The Whole Grains Council, Mediterranean Foods Alliance and Cheese of Choice Coalition, and is well-known for creating the Whole Grain Stamp and the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid.

About Operation Pathways, Inc.
Operation Pathways, Inc. provides and coordinates placed-based programs and services to residents in affordable housing communities to increase quality of life.  We provide one-on-one service coordination and programing focused on academic achievement, health and wellness, and financial stability.  Through our on-site resident services coordinators at our 19 housing-based community centers throughout the country, we impact the lives of over 3,400 low- to moderate-income individuals annually. Operation Pathways, Inc. is an affiliate of The NHP Foundation (NHPF). NHPF is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to creating and preserving affordable multifamily rental housing for low- to moderate- income families and seniors.  For more information visit: www.nhpfoundation.org