Local workshop to teach preteen girls healthy habits

Goshen - Whole foods chef Cathy Vogt and registered nurse and educator Maura Rose are collaborating with , Harmony Farms in Goshen to teach girls, ages 9 to 13, how to understand, appreciate and care for their bodies through nutrition and exercise. According to the American Pediatric Association, nearly 20 percent of children 6 to 11 years olds and more than 17 percent of 12 to 19 year olds are obese. This workshop, however, is not about weighing or dieting, but rather about preventing health problems by establishing healthy lifestyles full of nutritious food and activity. “When kids eat a certain way, they can see how they feel,” said Vogt, explaining blood, cognitive functions and energy levels are each affected by food choices. The American Pediatric Association has targeted preteen girls because they are going through physical and emotional changes. “That age is really imperative,” said Rose, who teaches at SUNY Orange and St. Mary’s College in Newburgh. “That is when girls can hit a lot of trouble in terms of weight gain.” Added Vogt, who also is a certified holistic counselor: “The idea of the program is to include all the basic concepts and give girls an opportunity to try a lot of new foods they’ve never tried before.” Girls will taste tofu cook with fresh garden herbs and try new types vegetables such as tomatillos tomatoes and heirlooms. The four-day workshop, which includes breakfast and lunch cooked from local, seasonal and organic ingredients, costs $275 per girl, and will be held from Aug. 6 to Aug. 9, lasting from 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. Vogt said a maximum of 12 girls will be permitted to register to retain “a nice, small intimate group.” Girls will dance with hula hoops, hold yoga poses and hike. In addition, they will try a hand at organic farming, learn about whole foods nutrition and cook. “Healthy food doesn’t have to complicated,” said Vogt, noting how more and more mainstream supermarkets, such as ShopRite, are now offering organic productions. According to Rose, an organic tomato can have double the lycopene, which has antioxidant properties useful in protecting cells from oxygen loss and preventing cancers, as an non-organic counterpart. Though the United States Drug Administration, responsible for regulating organic food products, makes no claims toward the superiority of organic products, consumers and producers have made a statement. In 2002 the USDA estimated the organic market would continue to be the fastest growing sector with a 20 percent annual growth rate and a projected $30.7 billion in sales by 2007. Such trends may indicate critical thinking regarding nutrition on a national level, but they likely mean little for 9 to 13 year-old girls who are often preoccupied with school, friends or new hair styles. By spending time and energy gardening and cooking, though, Rose and Vogt hope to instill in girls the value of food and activity choices. Rose is looking to expand the program to include preteen boys and menopausal women and to make it more affordable through grants from New York State Department of Health. Added Vogt: “These are skills that you’ll have for a lifetime. Taking care of yourself is an important skill to have.” To sign up or find out more call Vogt at 845-258-0136.