There’s never a dull moment at Willow Branch Apartments. Our friends at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health make sure of that. Next month we are launching a very important and long awaited piece of our wellness program: Nutrition and Diet!
This new class, entitled “Fun in the Kitchen: Healthy Food Made Easy,” will be taught by Rollins Nutrition PhD candidate, Rebecca Jones.
Rebecca and team will hold bi-monthly nutrition education workshops to meet community interests and needs. These workshops will be conducted on Fridays with multiple language groups, and get the kids from the after-school program involved as well. Topics will include a pantry/kitchen set up, grocery store trip, WIC vouchers and what to do with them, nutrition myth-busters etc.
We will formally ask some questions to help us learn about knowledge, preferences, and accessibility of foods, beverages and activities. This series will be included in an NIH funded research study that will provide insight into the diet and health changes of refugees upon arrival to the United States.
About Rebecca: 
After studying History and Biochemistry for her undergraduate degree, Rebecca became increasingly aware of the interplay of the social and behavioral environment and nutrition and pursued a Master’s degree in Public Health Nutrition at Emory Rollins School of Public Health. She was inspired during her time there to pursue a PhD in Nutrition and Health Sciences. Her interests focus on child and adolescent health and how family and the social environment may affect it. Rebecca’s research has focused on weight status of young children and their mothers globally.
We are thrilled to kick-off this valuable component in our preventative wellness initiative at Willow Branch. In January we plan to begin regular fitness classes including Yoga, Dance, Zumba and Walking. Contact us if you are interested in being a volunteer instructor!