Grab & Know at Best Start Hub

by Karina Hunter

Warren had a wealth of information to share in regards to nutrition and healthy food choices.

April 15^th, Reene Warren, Prenatal Programmer at the Manitouwadge Best Start Hub, presented Grab & Know: Snacks, an informative workshop for parents and caregivers of young children which included a hands-on recipe preparation segment. 

Warren encouraged attendees to get to know each other through fun ‘food games’ which involved sharing recollections of mealtime, food preparation and family eating habits.  Participants listened intently as Warren prompted them to recognize the role food can sometimes play in our lives beyond simple sustenance; she addressed the issue of learned behaviours in regards to food and some of the dangers of associating too much emotion to a child’s eating habits or using food as a reward giving examples of how these strategies can cause issues for children later in life. 

Mom, Caroline Durand, prepares one of the great creative snacks which Warren had provided ingredients and a recipe for.

Plenty of laughs were shared when Warren provided participants with creative snack recipes which they prepared and then sampled; these included apple/yogurt volcanos, celery and carrot towers and ‘shooting stars’ made from cucumber and cheese.  The session provided those who attended with many pro-active strategies for helping children to build healthy relationships with food, saving money and time, and creating good food habits to pass along to the children they care for.

There will be a 2^nd Grab & Know session later this spring with a focus on meals; it is not necessary to have attended last night’s session to participate in the next. For more information on drop-ins and programs offered at the Manitouwadge Best Start Hub, contact Program Coordinator Kelly Sagle at 826-2883. 

Submitted to The Echo, 04.16.0