Alissa Vandenbark, Author at MANNA

Health During the Holidays

Posted on December 5, 2013 by Alissa Vandenbark

Holidays are a time of festivities, family and food. Let MANNA help you put health into your holiday season with this recipe that will transform an everyday dessert into a healthy ending for a holiday meal: MANNA’s Black Bean Brownies.

These brownies are a new addition to the MANNA menu. They tempt our clients but are a more protein-rich version of this everyday dessert.

15 ounces cooked black beans – drained and rinsed

3 large eggs

3 Tablespoons canola oil

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 teaspoon vanilla

½ teaspoon baking powder

Pinch salt

½ cup chocolate chips

1.Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray an 8 x 8-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Place the black beans in the bowl of a food processor and process until smooth and creamy. Add the eggs, oil, sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, baking powder, and salt and process until smooth. Add ¼ cup of the chips and pulse a few times until the chips are incorporated.

3. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top with a rubber spatula, and sprinkle with the remaining ¼ cup chocolate chips.

4. Bake 30 to 35 minutes, or until the edges start to pull away from the sides of the pan and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan before slicing into 2-inch squares.

World AIDS Day- December 1, 2013

Posted on December 4, 2013 by Alissa Vandenbark

World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day that was started in 1988. It is a day for people worldwide to show their support for individuals living with HIV by uniting together to bring awareness to and to commemorate those who have died of this pandemic. Although scientific advances in HIV treatment have come a long way in the last 25 years, there is still so much more we do not know about the virus which has left us without a cure. World AIDS Day helps to raise money for research, increase HIV awareness by challenging myths, fighting against prejudice and stigmatism, and providing education for prevention.

It is estimated that nearly 34 million people in the world currently live with HIV and between the years of 1981 and 2007, more than 25 million people have died of this virus. Recent HIV treatment has improved the mortality and morbidity rates of people with HIV however, according to the World Health Organization; most people do not have access to medical care and treatment. That is mainly due to the fact that 97% of people living with HIV reside in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in the sub-Saharan Africa. That being said, HIV/AIDS does not discriminate and can be found in all countries. In the United States alone, more than 1.1 million people are living with HIV and over 18% are unaware that they are infected. World AIDS Day serves as a reminder that HIV has not gone away and there is much to be done in the efforts to fight this disease.

MANNA has been on the front line in the efforts to help individuals in the Philadelphia and surrounding areas who are suffering from HIV/AIDS. Founded in 1990, MANNA has been preparing and delivering medically appropriate meals to people diagnosed with this life-threatening illnesses. Through the delivery of 3 meals a day, 7 days a week, MANNA provides hope and nourishment. Currently about 17% of all MANNA clients served have a HIV/AIDS diagnosis. By providing these vital services, MANNA has been able to help nourish those individuals back to health.

In a recent groundbreaking pilot study conducted by MANNA, Examining Health Care Costs Among MANNA Clients and a Comparison Group, results showed statistical evidence that critical and nutritionally at-risk people served by MANNA incur lower health care costs. In particular for individuals who had a HIV/AIDS diagnosis, those who were receiving the MANNA meal program reduced their monthly health care costs from over $50,000 before starting MANNA’s service to an average of $17,000 after being on MANNA meals. The mean monthly costs were also $20,000 lower in the MANNA group as compared to the comparison group with an average of monthly cost of $37,000. These results indicate a significant impact of improved health and nutritional status for people living with HIV/AIDS who have received MANNA services. MANNA clients described improvements in health and faster recovery times, which they attributed to their improved nutrition and weight gain. MANNA will continue to strive to provide nourishment to people living with HIV/AIDS in their efforts to fight against this pandemic. For more information visit, www.mannapa.org.

MANNA Pie – taking the Eagles to V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!

Posted on November 13, 2013 by Alissa Vandenbark

Some have a lucky penny, a rabbit’s foot – the Philadelphia Eagles have MANNA PIE! Gooey, sweet, delicious MANNA Pecan pie to be exact. WIP’s Angelo Cataldi credits last week’s Eagles victory to MANNA pies! Pie Man visited WIP with the delicious treat that took the Eagles to victory over the Packers. Every MANNA pie sold is a victory for the many critically-sick neighbor MANNA nourishes – each pie provides a neighbor with a bountiful Thanksgiving meal (enough to share!).

MANNA pies are selling fast! Buy yours now to ensure that you have Greater Philadelphia’s WINNINGEST dessert on your Thanksgiving Table!

Pie, MANNA Pie! Get your pie at www.mannapies.org

November Is American Diabetes Month

Posted on October 31, 2013 by Alissa Vandenbark

Did you know that 30% of MANNA clients have diabetes, a chronic disease that causes elevated blood glucose levels and can lead to life-threatening complications over time? The goal of American Diabetes month is to raise awareness and understanding of diabetes, its consequences, management and prevention. In the United States, it is estimated that 26 million children and adults are living with diabetes and 79 million more are at risk for developing diabetes. Recent estimates project that as many as one in three American adults will have diabetes in 2050 unless steps are taken.

Symptoms of diabetes can include frequent urination, feeling very thirsty or hungry – even though you are eating, extreme fatigue, blurry vision, cuts or bruises that are slow to heal, and tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands and feet. Due to the fact that these symptoms mirror many other types of disease side effects, diabetes can easily go without being diagnosed making it a “hidden disease.” In order to identify and properly diagnose diabetes you must know and understand the risk factors, which include family history of diabetes, being overweight, age and race, having pre-diabetes, not exercising regularly, high blood pressure, low HDL and/or high levels of triglycerides, and a history of gestational diabetes.

If you are at risk, MANNA suggests focusing on the risk factors that you can change. For example, you can manage and sometimes prevent diabetes by eating a healthy diet and exercising. Maintain a healthy weight, stay physically active and by get regular physicals.

At MANNA one of the most common dietary modifications that we give our clients is our diabetic, heart healthy menu. Our diabetic meals are carbohydrate-controlled and we prepare diabetic desserts with sucralose-based artificial sweeteners like Splenda. We strive to keep all MANNA desserts fruit and vegetable-based.

For more information, visit http://www.diabetes.org/in-my-community/programs/american-diabetes-month/

Healthy Halloween

Posted on October 22, 2013 by Alissa Vandenbark

Halloween is the time of the year that you can have your candy and eat it too! But with obesity rates rising and other health issues related to excess sugar and process foods, these sweet treats can do nightmares to your body. According to Donna Arnett, Ph.D, chair of the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Alabama-Birmingham’s School of Public Health, the average child accumulates 3,500-7,000 calories worth of treats on Halloween night.

Here at MANNA, we want you to have your fun so here are five tips for a healthy Halloween:

Eat before you go Trick or Treating. Have a healthy meal before getting dressed up and hitting the streets – this will reduce the amount of candy you eat along your travels.
Get moving! Pick neighborhoods that are easily walkable – this way your kids are adding in exercise with their fun.
Keep your favorites and hide the rest. Moderation is key to all things in life. Either agree with the amount of candy they can have per day from their stash or keep their favorites and get rid of the rest by donating them to Operation Gratitude as part of a Halloween Candy Buy-Back program that sends care packages to US troops overseas.
Hand out non-sugar foods such as granola bars, crackers, pretzels or trail mix.
When you have the option… go for the dark chocolate option!

Halloween is the beginning of the holiday season – so make sure it is a healthy start!

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.