baylor scott & white health
Health Care Reimagined
the recipe for better health
The enticing aroma of simmering garlic and onions wafts through the hallways of the Anita N. Martinez Recreation Center.
Apron-clad Onesima Gutierrez laughs heartily and converses in Spanish with her cousin and sister-in-law as they prepare two savory dishes: cauliflower macaroni and cheese, and easy spinach and chicken pasta. They’ re learning to cook healthy meals in a program sponsored by Baylor Scott & White Health, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and the City of Dallas Park and Recreation Department. Gutierrez’ s sister-in-law spotted a flier about the program and invited the two to join her.
The initiative, called Healthy Cities, is offered for free at three Dallas recreation centers: Anita N. Martinez, Cummings and Samuell-Grand. Healthy Cities is designed to help North Texans manage pre-diabetes, diabetes and other chronic health conditions through healthy nutrition and lifestyle choices. Classes are offered every three months in English or Spanish, depending on the class members.
Approximately 29 million people in the U. S. have diabetes. About one in 12 Dallas-area adults has been diagnosed with diabetes, and another three have elevated blood sugar levels and are likely to develop it.
Griselda Villarreal, a Baylor Scott & White community health worker( CHW), teaches Healthy Cities classes in Spanish. A CHW is a frontline public health worker who helps individuals and communities increase their health knowledge and self-sufficiency. CHWs typically speak the same language and share cultural roots with the people they serve.
Healthy Cities offers public farm stands with fresh produce, plus ingredients for each week’ s recipes; collaborates with the Dallas Park and Recreation Department on recreation and physical activity programs; and texts tips, tools and resources to reinforce class lessons.
Gutierrez’ s husband has diabetes. Her classmates’ families are grappling with other health issues such as high blood pressure. After they prepare the new recipes at home, they share photos of the food and give one another tips on how to tweak the ingredients.
Gutierrez has three sons ranging in age from 7 to 22. They all approve of her new cooking skills. Another measure of success? Her husband has already lost 10 pounds.
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