Healthy habits start young. That’s why Laquanda Dobson and Shabazz Ransom of West Philadelphia spend much of their free time teaching elementary schoolers how to grow, buy and cook nutritious foods.
“A lot of this stuff I never made before,” says Laquanda, reciting a list of foods such as stir fry, whole grain rice and fruit smoothies. She’s watched several relatives suffer with heart problems and diabetes. One aunt had a leg amputated because of diabetes.
“Wendy’s and McDonald’s get us because our moms are working,” she says, describing how many urban teens fall into unhealthy routines.
“Obesity can lead to other diseases,” says Shabazz. “It’s the first step.”
Now, as part of the University of Pennsylvania’s Urban Nutrition Initiative (UNI) – a program designed to improve wellness by promoting food and nutrition knowledge, increasing the supply of healthy foods and encouraging and supporting active lifestyles – students like Laquanda and Shabazz learn skills like cooking and gardening, operate after-school fruit stands and community farmers’ markets and help neighborhood markets create healthy food stations. The pair are also budding chef/instructors who preach the virtues of low-fat snacks, home-grown veggies and exercise.
“We want little kids to know cooking is fun and you can do it with your whole family,” says Laquanda, 17.
In a series of classes, the teens teach about “eating a rainbow” – all those colorful foods that are good for you, substituting water for soda and reading nutrition labels.
“The first three ingredients are what you are getting the most of,” she explains. And if sugar is in that top three list: Beware. They share tips such as the motto “Think AHEAD,” a handy way to remember to find foods that are Accessible, Healthy, Easy, Affordable and Delicious. Even if you shop at the corner store, Laquanda says, “look for snacks like popcorn or pretzels that are much better for you.”
The more the two learn, the more their own habits have changed. Shabazz has given up the two sodas a day he used to gulp down and both have recently joined a track team. Running is a stress-reliever for Laquanda.
Ever since getting involved in the nutrition initiative, Shabazz, 16, has become aware of the barriers to healthy living in his neighborhood.
“All the unhealthy snacks are cheap, like chips and Doritos,” he says. “Some corner stores don’t even have fruits and vegetables.”
The quick, easy dinner options--such as Chinese takeout—are not too good for you, he explains.
Both Shabazz and Laquanda have been teased for being “health nuts.” But sometimes they are able to change attitudes, like the time the program delivered fresh, ripe peaches to school.
“Everybody just went crazy for them,” Laquanda recalls. “Usually all we have at school is fruit cup.”
Both also have family members who are overweight, an added incentive for them to share nutritious recipes at home.
“My mom always made fried chicken but now I show her how to bake it,” says Shabazz. Two of his favorite recipes are taco salad—piled high with lettuce, tomatoes, ground beef and cheese—and smoothies, which can be a smart way to rescue those slightly brown bananas sitting on the countertop.
Laquanda worries that too many young people, especially African-Americans, are not getting the information they need to adopt healthy lifestyles.
“All we see on TV all day is, ‘Lose weight, lose weight,’” she says. “But they don’t tell you the right way, they just sell you a bunch of pills.”
And she gets mad when adults who should know better do things that foster poor health.
“They let the football team sell candy,” she says. “Why would you sell candy in school? That is really not helping the cause. It’s just embarrassing.”