Alissa Vandenbark, Author at MANNA

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Alissa Vandenbark

When Valarie Maddox was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, her two young daughters needed MANNA’s support as well. Valarie avowed, “The meals are great because I am a single mother and I live with my two daughters. To see the strain on my daughters and their worry because I was always the cook in my house, the MANNA meals helped to take the pressure off of them knowing I was taken care of.”

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide and the incidence continues to rise steadily with over 1 million new cases and almost half a million deaths annually. Currently the direct cause of breast cancer is not known; education, awareness and early detection remain as the key components to combating this disease. October marks National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, when people across the world increase awareness of the disease and fundraise to support research in search of a cure.

In 2007 MANNA partnered with the Susan G. Komen Philadelphia organization to provide medically-appropriate meals to hundreds of women and families battling breast cancer. This partnership ensured access to nutritious meals early in their treatment, increasing their chances of survival. Since 2007, MANNA has nourished back to health over 500 individuals diagnosed with breast cancer.

“MANNA has helped me so much with their meal program. When I was too tired to cook I was able to heat up a meal which helped me a lot. I felt like if I didn’t have MANNA, my nutrition would not have been as good,” MANNA client Chanel Royster noted.

Charlene Callicut, a current MANNA client agreed, “MANNA has provided me a lot of support since day one. It really helped me with my eating and providing me with nutritious food. The type of food that they are sending me is good food, and it tastes good too.”

For more information on ways that you can become involved with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, go to www.komenphiladelphia.org.

Sue Daugherty – Our #Health Hero

Posted on September 4, 2013 by Alissa Vandenbark

Philadelphia’s health blog staple – Be Well Philly of Philadelphia Magazine has announced its 16 semi-finalist for their annual Health Hero Challenge. Out of over 500 entries, MANNA’s Executive Director, Sue Daugherty was named one of the 16. Voters can start voting and showing their support on September 10^th when voting begins. Voters are allowed to vote once a day – every day until September 16^th when voting for Sue’s round ends. We sat down with Sue to find out what she thinks about the nomination and what she is doing to make MANNA a health hero to thousands of ill neighbors throughout the greater Philadelphia area. Make sure to Like Be Well Philly’s Facebook page to be able to vote!

How did you feel when you found out you were nominated and a semi-finalist for the Be Well Philly Health Hero?

I was shocked and honored. What a great forum for me to talk about MANNA and the work we do.

What is your idea of what a Health Hero means?

Someone who takes seriously their role in learning and understanding what being healthy means and spreads that message. Your health needs to be a lifelong commitment that requires discipline.

MANNA focuses on nutrition and food as medicine and you have been a key force in the science of the MANNA meals. Could you speak more about what “food as medicine means”?

I often tell patients that your body is like a car – if you don’t put gas in it you are not going anywhere. You may splutter along for a little while, but eventually without the proper fuel, you aren’t going to get too far. Like a car, you need to fuel your body with good nutrition as the foundation and base for all your treatments. The prescription bottle and its contents are next to useless without certain nutrition standards met first.

Speaking of food as medicine, MANNA was recently published in The Journal of Primary Medicine and Community Health: Examining Health Care Costs Among MANNA Clients and a Comparison Group. What were the key finds from the research?

Keeping someone nourished in the home is saving significant health care cost – study results. MANNA clients who received complete nutrition cost the health care system less, are hospitalized for less days and when discharged they are more likely to be discharged to home versus sub-acute or long term care.

When did your love/passion for health begin?

Hmm, I think my passion began early in my profession working with the HIV/AIDS population. I always had an interest and studied nutrition. I knew it was important, but I don’t think I really fully understood its impact until I saw patients fighting for their lives first hand. I was watching patients wasting away/dying from AIDS – but over and over again I saw patients that were nourished and physically strong able to tolerate their treatments better. It was at this time that I started to talk about food as medicine. I counseled my patients to think of food as a pill and just like you needed to take your pills at a certain time it was just as critical to eat at regular times.

What do you believe is the best way to stay healthy?

I think everything in moderation and balance. Eating healthy and physical exercise should be part of your life routine but not rule your life. Too many times I’ve made the mistake of going on a “diet” or some intense exercise regimen. The problem with diets and crazy workouts is their not sustainable; there is a start and an end. Often when you fail (missing a day at the gym or eating a “forbidden” food) you feel bad about it and end up eating worse or not working out at all. It really is a balance for me – it is a routine but it’s okay to take a day off.

Besides good nutrition, do you do anything else to stay healthy?

For me health is defined by a lot. Yes, good nutrition and regular exercise (the kind that makes you sweat) are important. Just as important for me is laughter and not taking life too seriously. It’s so easy to get caught up in work demands and my profession is important to my mental health and my identity, but sometimes you just have to have a good laugh and usually it’s at myself – I have 7 nieces and nephews who are all under the age of 11 and I have to tell you they are pretty good at keeping me in check!

What is your favorite exercise?

Running is therapy for me and always surprises me – I’ve been running for the past 20 years and I still can’t predict a good or bad run? Spin is another favorite exercise – I love the music!

Who is your personal health hero?

Patricia Sola founder of Hope Initiative – Namibia, Southwest Africa. In 2007 I had the honor of traveling to Namibia with a small team to work with Patricia to help develop nutrition programs for OVC’s (orphans and vulnerable children) living in squatter settlements. Patricia was an inspiration and continues to be.

Who or what makes you motivated to stay healthy?

MANNA clients – they are fighting for their life. I know what a gift my health is – I never take it for granted and want to do everything in my power to ensure I continue a healthy lifestyle.

How do you treat yourself? Any forbidden foods that you just can’t stay away from?

Of course, I don’t believe in forbidden foods – my belief is “all foods fit.” I would have to say that Chickie and Pete’s crab fries with cheese sauce are my favorite.

While eating out, what’s your trick on watching your calorie intake with all of Philadelphia’s amazing restaurants around?

I hardly ever order an entrée for myself – I love to share or get a salad and an appetizer for my meal.

What is your favorite MANNA pie?

Sky Pie

YOU ARE NEVER TOO YOUNG FOR GOOD NUTRITION

Posted on August 30, 2013 by Alissa Vandenbark

Over the last decade, the prevalence of childhood obesity has steadily increased. Today, one out of every three American adolescents is overweight or obese – nearly triple the rate in 1963. Childhood obesity has a huge impact on the health and well being of children, and often leads to serious physical and psychological issues. Children who are overweight or obese have an elevated risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and type-2 diabetes earlier in life. The psychological effects that can accompany these health problems include low self-esteem, negative body image, and depression. It is important to intervene with children who are overweight or obese in the early stages since overweight kids have a 70-80% chance of staying overweight into adulthood dramatically increase their risk factors for developing chronic illnesses.

The start of a new school year is the time to focus on creating a healthy, nutritional routine for your child. Build a strong nutrition structure at home by serving regular, balanced meals and snacks, allowing children to use their own internal signals to indicate fullness, getting them involved in nutrition, and making family meals times a priority. Breakfast is an essential part of every day and is particularly important for school children. Research shows that breakfast eaters have higher school attendance, score higher on tests, concentrate better, and are better problem solve problems. Have your kids help pick what they will be eating, help you cook meals or grocery shop with you to pick out healthy foods for their school lunches and family meals. Family meals are great because they foster family unity as well as improve nutrition.

MANNA supports healthy nutrition in children by providing our home-delivered meal program and nutrition education services for adolescents. While the majority of MANNA clients may not be children, there is no age restriction for the meal program. If a child is battling a serious illness, such as obesity, MANNA can assist with their healthy eating practices and weight loss efforts by providing our home-delivered meals. MANNA also supports our adult clients who have dependent children under the age of 18 by sending meals for the entire family, ensuring that the client has the best chance of recovering from their illness.

On September 26^th, MANNA will be hosting the Nourish Awards. Established in 2010 as a way to celebrate the champions of health care and nutrition, this year MANNA will be recognizing the Einstein Healthcare Network, SHARE food program, and the Campbell Soup Foundation. All three of these organizations have developed programs to better the lives of children across America while fighting childhood obesity at the same time and are worthy of this esteemed award. For more information on the programs that they provide and on the Nourish Awards & Health Symposium, visit MANNA’s website at Nourish.

“MANNA gives me a peace of mind”

Posted on August 19, 2013 by Alissa Vandenbark

“The physical and emotional health of an entire generation and the economic health and security of our nation is at stake” – First Lady Michelle Obama at the Let’s Move! launch on February 9, 2010.

According to Let’s Move!, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled over the past three decades and today, nearly one in three children in America are overweight or obese. Barring any changes, one third of all children born this century will suffer from diabetes at some point in their lives. Many others will have to deal with obesity-related health problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer and asthma.

It is critical to watch what we feed our children, but what if you did not have the energy, money or time to cook healthy meals because you were sick? That is where MANNA steps in! With aggressive treatments and medications making MANNA clients feel weak, they are sometimes unable to provide meals to their children. Other clients may choose to divert their meals to their children, further endangering their nutritional status. To ensure the health of the MANNA client as well as their children MANNA provides 3 meals a day, 7 days a week to their dependents.

Meet Desiree, a MANNA client, breast cancer survivor and mother of four young children (13, 6, 4 and 2 years old). She knows the struggle of providing healthy meals to her children while ill, “It was a relief! That’s what I feel. When your family needs you, you can’t think about being sick or tired, you have to respond to them, but I had no energy to help myself or them. I started to not be able to remember a time when I wasn’t sick – and I wondered when things would return to normal. When we sit down as a family for dinner, that means ‘normal’ is coming back to my family!”

“MANNA gives me peace of mind. And the kids know the delivery schedule better than I do…the 4 year old will say, “Mommy isn’t today when we get the food?” They love the fruit cups!”

Help provide peace of mind and nourishment for our clients and their children by donating.

Your Body Knows Best!

Posted on July 31, 2013 by Alissa Vandenbark

MANNA is all about nutrition and health. And we take ourselves seriously. This is why we want to keep you – our loyal readers – safe by sharing these everyday symptoms that people often neglect, but which could be a sign that something IS wrong. You should always see a doctor for the following:

1. Unexplained weight loss: Shedding pounds without trying could be a side effect of several medical conditions including; an overactive thyroid, diabetes, depression, liver disease, cancer, or malabsorption disorders. A loss of 10% of your body weight in a six month period of time is considered significant.

2. Persistent or high fever: Having a fever can actually be a good thing, it can aid in fighting infections. However, speak with your doctor if you have had a fever for greater than three days or a high fever of 103 F or higher. This could be a sign of a hidden infection such as an UTI or something more serious like cancer.

3. Shortness of breath: Being unable to catch your breath or gasping for air should result in immediate medical attention. If you are having persistent problems with breathing or feel breathless when lying down it could be a sign of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia, or heart and lung problems.

4. Unexplained changes in bowel habits: Every person’s bowel movements are different, if you notice a change in your bowel habits it could be a sign of bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections, irritable bowel syndrome, or colon cancer.

5. Confusion or personality changes: Infections, anemia, low blood sugar, and dehydration can all cause symptoms of confusion and changes in personality. If you become suddenly confused about time or place or develop sudden problems with concentration or memory, seek immediate attention.

6. Feeling full after eating very little: If you develop early satiety or are eating less than normal, it could be a sign of GERD, irritable bowel syndrome, or in serious cases pancreatic cancer. Contact your doctor if you suddenly develop early satiety, nausea, vomiting, unintentional weight loss, bloating or fever.

7. Flashes of light: Sudden flashes of light or bright spots could be a sign of a migraine headache or it could be something more serious such as retinal detachment. Both warrant seeking immediate medical care from your physician.

Your body knows best! Be sure that you stop and listen to the sometimes subtle messages it is sending to prevent what could become a major complication.

Delivering Health & Hope ALL Summer!

Posted on July 23, 2013 by Alissa Vandenbark

Even in the 100 degree temperatures, Mike Breslin is on the road again! As a faithful volunteer driver, Mike logs miles every week delivering nourishing meals to MANNA clients who are too sick to shop and cook themselves.

“I see how difficult life is for some people. It makes you realize how important your health is,” Mike acknowledged. “And I like that MANNA is not income based – it is just about HEALTH.”

This summer, MANNA drivers will deliver over 200,000 meals. Volunteer drivers like Mike are an essential part of this workforce. Not only do they help provide crucial MANNA services, but they are often a lifeline of support to clients too sick to go out. They deliver hope, encouragement and love.

One of the MANNA clients Mike delivered to has summed it up this way: “When I got sick, I gave up part of my identity. I lost the ability to go out, to connect in the community. MANNA brings that back to me.”

When Mike retired, volunteering was one of the goals he set for himself. MANNA’s many clients are thankful he did! Not everyone has time to deliver meals – there are other ways to help MANNA deliver 200,000+ meals this summer. We got a ton a ideas – click here to find out how you can help! #FoodisMedicine

Illness Never Goes on Vacation

Posted on July 19, 2013 by Alissa Vandenbark

Cancer does not take a week off. There is no rest from HIV/AIDS. Renal disease does not let up. MANNA clients battle their illnesses each day, every day, all summer long.

This summer, MANNA client Celestine will travel only as far as her dialysis center. It’s a short trip, but it’s arduous and difficult for her. Intense leg pain. Calcification of her blood vessels. Unbearably painful lesions. Chronic kidney disease has ravaged Celestine. Standing and walking are hard, hard work.

“I can’t tell you how wonderful MANNA has been to me and how faithfully they’ve delivered my meals every week. I feel so blessed to have found out about MANNA and to receive their help. I’m getting my strength back. I’m starting to gain weight. You can’t know how important that is. I had just stopped eating. I didn’t have the strength or the desire to eat. But now I have so many good things in my refrigerator” says Celestine.

MANNA meals are a constant reminder that we care – all of us – and that a helping of hope and targeted nutrition CAN change a sick neighbor’s battle into a successful one. Help us deliver over 200,000+ meals to neighbors in need – donate today!

Food as Medicine: Prestigious medical publication affirms nourishment has beneficial results for the critically ill

Posted on July 17, 2013 by Alissa Vandenbark

Sue Daugherty is used to grateful thank you notes that trumpet the benefits of nutrition and nourishment.

As Executive Director of MANNA, (Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance), she heads up a local charity that has been providing life-saving nourishment to the critically ill since 1990. MANNA prepares, cooks and delivers over 70,000 meals monthly and just recently celebrated the delivery of its 10 millionth meal. Meal plans have 11 different diet modifications created for such serious illnesses as cancer, renal and cardiac disease, HIV/AIDS and diabetes.

Though evidence suggested that neglecting the importance of adequate nutrition in chronically ill patients had far-reaching implications on their health (as well as health care costs), solid research was lacking. So MANNA conducted a study exploring health care expenditures in MANNA clients over time compared to a control group of patients without MANNA services. Health care costs were examined before and after clients began receiving services. The study found that the mean monthly health care costs decreased for three consecutive months after initiation of MANNA services. Other health care cost–related factors, such as inpatient costs, length of stay, and number of hospital admissions also displayed a downward trend.

When the Journal of Primary Care and Community Health reviewed the research and found it worthy enough for publication, Daugherty had the satisfaction of adding the weight of this prestigious publication to the organization’s long heralded benefits. Research printed in The Journal of Primary Care and Community Health will show, among other things:

Average monthly health care costs of MANNA clients fell 62% for three consecutive months after beginning service – a drop of almost $30,000.
For HIV/AIDS patients, costs fell over 80% in the first three months.
Even when MANNA clients’ needed hospitalization, their improved nutritional status resulted in reducing the average number of monthly visits to half that of the comparison group and their length of stay for inpatient visits was 37% shorter.
Monthly inpatient hospital costs of clients were 30% lower over the six months following initiation of services as compared to the six months prior to starting MANNA.
The costs of inpatient hospitalizations of MANNA clients were 40% lower. On average, the MCO paid out $12,000 less per month for MANNA clients.
MANNA clients were over 20% more likely to be released from the hospital to home rather than to long-term care or health care facility.
MANNA clients living with HIV/AIDS cost the MCO (Managed Care Organization) an average of $20,000 less per month.

For MANNA, the publication provided long sought after credentials for their work that could convince providers there was a less expensive and more effective way to reduce healthcare expenditures.

“With national healthcare looming just months away, hospitals and other healthcare organizations can breathe a little easier knowing that MANNA is a reliable partner to help them reduce costs and keep people healthier,” says Daugherty. The nourishment provided “is life affirming” she continued, “and keeps people in their homes longer, enhancing quality of life as well as extending it.”

Walking through MANNA’s busy kitchen where a full culinary staff and 1500 volunteers monthly chop and dice busily, Daugherty says, “The publication of our study in the Journal of Primary Care just affirms what we always knew – there’s a miracle brewing on 23^rd Street in Philadelphia. And that miracle is MANNA.”

Read our study in the Journal of Primary Care by clicking here.

A MANNA Client Who is Back in the Game!

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Alissa Vandenbark

“It was crazy,” Luz shared. “I had no feelings in my arms. I was having severe headaches and awful back pain. It was really scary.” Luz symptoms were caused by a herniation in her cerebellum called Chairi Malformation.

Luz’ doctor took immediate action and scheduled brain surgery. Next he called for MANNA meals.

Luz is a cancer survivor and has extremely high cholesterol and triglycerides. Her nutritional needs were complex. MANNA was the perfect solution. The heart-healthy meals full of lean proteins and vegetables prepared lovingly in the MANNA kitchen filled all of Luz’ needs. And the little touches brightened her recovery – her wonderful driver and the birthday cake and card. “MANNA sent me a birthday cake, AND even sent a cake for my son when HE turned 14. It was so sweet!”

Luz is healthy again – she is back in the game! MANNA meals helped her heal AND reduced her cholesterol and triglycerides. When you support MANNA, you support clients like Luz who rely on MANNA’s help during a crisis – want to help?

First Annual #MANNAGuac-off

Posted on July 11, 2013 by Alissa Vandenbark

On Sunday, June 23, 2013 – we held our very first Guac-off at Fleisher Art Memorial! What started out as an idea from the MANNA Young Friends Committee, turned into a full out event with 12 competitors including Mission Grill, Jose Pistola’s, Philly food truck Guerrilla Ultima and 8 year old superstar Alison Flam. All 12 competitors were tasked with the duty of preparing their signature guacamole recipe and to provide enough samples to feed 130 attendees.

When 6’2 host, Brittany Lynn – don/mother of the Drag Mafia walked into the venue, participants knew they were not only in for some good guacamole tasting but in for some entertainment as well! Outside of Brittany’s witty humor, attendees enjoyed chips, salsa, beverages, music and of course…guacamole!

MANNA’s Executive Chef, Keith Lucas and freelance writer and food enthusiastic, Drew Lazor had the tough job of judging all of the guacamole recipes (rough…right?) through a blind tasting and crowning the grand prize winner.

In the end, Guerrilla Ultima took home first place as Grand Prize winner and walked away with the Guac-off trophy as well as staycation package for 2 night stay at Embassy Suites Philadelphia including breakfast and cocktail receptions and 2 passes to the Academy of Natural Science . The People’s Choice Award went to Adan Trinidad from Jose Pistola’s who gave his prize ($250 US Airways gift card) to 8 year old competitor Alison Flam- what a gentlemen!

MANNA raised over $3,500 enabling MANNA to provide 972 nourishing meals. To see photos from the event, check out our Facebook album.