Covering Indian Country – March 2020

Spotlight: Native American Community Clinic

Despite their best efforts, many households with young children find it challenging to make healthy food choices. This month, the Native American Community Clinic (NACC) in Minneapolis, MN, is launching a 10-week series of classes to improve families' eating habits. Funded by a $15,000 grant from the Healthy Children, Healthy Nations Fund, the classes cover topics such as meal planning, breastfeeding, and using indigenous ingredients to make nutritious baby food at home. NACC dietitian Jessica Thurin (left) and community health educator Chenoa Stout (Spirit Lake Nation)

Choices regarding what families eat and how much they eat are often shaped by how hectic mealtimes are. "With that in mind, our classes dive into how emotions and stressors impact our food choices," says Moriah Johnson, a dietitian and certified diabetes educator who serves as NACC's community health manager.

"Certain habits, such as having consistent mealtimes and turning the television off during dinner, can help families avoid overeating." — Moriah Johnson, NACC's Community Health Manager

Sessions are facilitated by a dietitian, a behavioral health professional, and one of the clinic's elders in residence. Each class consists of an hour of content, followed by a hands-on, indigenous-focused activity. "Our first activity is making baby moccasins," Johnson says. "As we get further into the growing season, we'll include more activities in indigenous gardens, either at the clinic or nearby." Johnson acknowledges that getting young kids to eat unfamiliar foods can feel like an unwinnable battle. To that end, NACC's classes incorporate coaching strategies to help ensure children's experiences with new foods are positive.