To help make better choices at the supermarket the ‘Healthy As’ website now features a new section called  ‘Trolley Tips’.

Jenni Gane from the Nutrition and Physical Activity Programme says the idea for Trolley Tips came out of a joint initiative between the National  Heart Foundation, Nelson Budget Service and the Nutrition and Physical Activity programme .

“We started working with employers to promote healthy food options in the workplace cafeteria to employees,” she says. “The spin off being a healthier workforce, with fewer absences and less  illness.”
However, Jenni says the project has grown to become an interactive website with a weekly menu planner, food truths, budget tips, recipes and even how to grow your own veges.

“We’ll help people create a meal from scratch using local and seasonal produce – and give tips on how to get the most out of their food budget.”

 There’s also a Question and Answer section on the site and Jenni says anyone can ask a question or share their favourite recipe or tip.

“We’ll be posting weekly menu planner updates  with  monthly tips  and links to useful sites, as well as some yummy, simple recipes.”

 Check out Trolley tips at www.healthyas.org.nz/trolley-tips

Jo has just taken up a role supporting Juliet Wiseman as part of the Community Nutrition Service at Kimi Hauora Wairau PHO.

“The variety of the work I will be involved with will be fantastic,” says a passionate Jo. “I am really looking forward to the adventure.”

 Jo grew up in Warwickshire in the UK and completed her Dietetic Training at Coventry University before being accredited to practice Dietetics in NZ last year.

 As Jo begins to explain how she will be facilitating programmes, such as Activ8, that aim to support overweight children and families to move towards healthier eating patterns and higher levels of regular activity, her eyes light up.

 “Motivating families to make lifestyle changes can be so rewarding,” she says. “Just to see the confidence of the family unit grow is amazing.”

 Other work she will be involved with includes supporting Early Childhood Education Centres, organisations and community groups with expert dietetic knowledge, and setting up training opportunities for staff, parents and health workers.

Jo Stewart - new recruit at KHW PHO

Training for the Keplar Challenge in December is obviously not enough to keep our little garden fairy out of mischief, she’s decided a ready supply of lettuce, spinach and silverbeet wouldn’t go amiss for our weekday lunches.

Our own little garden fairy in action....

salad garden at NPA 'Headquarters'

Have you got a garden growing at your workplace or indeed a garden fairy of your own?

Send your photos and details to leanne.punt@nmdhb.govt.nz and we’ll include them in our next newsletter.

Andrea Kelly-Carmody

Get Cooking is a six week course aimed at giving non-cooks the skills and confidence to cook affordable, healthy, nutritious meals, with the celebration of food and sitting at the table to eat an important part of the course.    

With a household of five teenagers, Andrea is all too aware of the challenges of healthy eating.  “I believe that family meals are important,” she says.  “My kids try to slope off and eat in front of the TV but it’s our house rule to eat at the table.  It’s an important family time.  And besides, I don’t want food stains on our new lounge suite!”

Andrea’s Get Cooking role complements her other work as the Kaiawhina at Victory Community Health, helping people in need.  “At Victory I have seen Get Cooking in action and the practical support it offers my clients, many of whom I support to access food parcels,” she says. “I also run a food stall at events over the summer months so the common theme in all three jobs is food!” 

Get cooking courses are being run by a range of organisations in Nelson.  To find out more, contact Andrea at getcooking@nelsonhub.org.

Kirsty Mattison from Stadium 2000 led a rousing version of ‘Sit and be Fit’ an exercise programme for those with limited mobility or those who haven’t been active for a while. Kirsty had many requests from the audience for the soundtrack so community representatives could share the Bird Dance with their groups!

Kim Willemse, Marlborough Hubs advisor, had organised the day to promote the presence of Active Hubs in the Marlborough Community. These hubs are located in Picton, Riversdale, Seddon, Renwick and Havelock. All hubs have a part time coordinator responsible for setting up activities the community actually wants, with the aim of getting more people active. Hubs also offer a central area for the promotion of health messages. Kim was delighted with the turnout and looks forward to building on the growth and success of Active Hubs in Marlborough.

You can contact Sport Marlborough 577 8855 to find out more about the Active Hub in your area.

“Every morning, I tell myself: I choose to give up smoking and I choose to be happy about it. And by doing that, I take control of it,” the mother of two said.

When it comes kicking an addiction, it’s all about control and Pania’s own struggles have taught her that the control is in your hands.

“Smoking takes control of you in a lot of different ways,” she said.

“You’re pre-thinking, when is the car going to stop because I need a smoke.

“You race through your tea so you can have a smoke.

“Breaking all those things is really nice.

“I watch smokers now and they’re chained to that addiction.”

That chain is often created by fear.

“I was a chain smoker for 19 years,” Pania said.

“All my mates smoked, I didn’t cough. I liked it and I didn’t want to stop.

“I didn’t think I could stop.”

But eight months later, cigarettes are just yesterday’s nightmare for Pania.

“I used to dream I was smoking, then wake up worried that I’d started again,” she said.

“But looking back, I’m very proud to have stopped.

“Now I say to everyone who’s smoking: if I can give up, everyone can give up.

“Choose to give it up.  Choose to make the decision to give it up.”

 But Pania is quick to point out that that choice doesn’t mean suffering. It’s more like freedom.

“I say it’s time to become a patched member: put on a nicotine patch and become a member of the smoke free gang,” she said.

“When I first stopped I double patched for three weeks.

“The double dose was giving me nightmares but I was too scared to drop one.

“Then I did two weeks on a smaller patch and haven’t touched one again.”

Pania’s new smoke free lifestyle is one of the ways she’s trying to set a good example for her friends and whanau.

As part of the Maori Community Leader’s programme, Pania is one of eight well-known locals who’ve made a commitment to the permanent healthy lifestyle changes in an effort to inspire their wider community.

“I’ve always been a strong leader, no matter what I do, and I believe I have a responsibility to Maori and to young Maori to come through better,” she said.

“I hope to become someone to lead the way in health. I think because I’ve smoked and carried weight, I haven’t flown that banner, I want to fly that banner so younger Maori can do these things better and teach their kids.

“I don’t want my kids to go through being overweight.”

But its Pania’s own struggles with smokes and weight that make her such a good example for others.

“Maori are very much a proof is in the pudding culture,” she said.

“If I can say to them, I’ve lost 20kg and they can see it they will give it a go.

“Because you know what they’ve been through I can say: I know how hard it is, I know you want to pick up that cream bun.

“I think this can really work because Maori are good at sharing, good and bad.

“Go to the hui and share the healthy – that’s what it’s about for me.”

But Pania is quick to point out that living a healthy lifestyle, does not include crash dieting.

“Two years ago I signed up with a personal trainer and lost 44kg,” she said.

“I took out all the carbs but the reality is, that can’t be sustained.

“It’s about still having carbohydrates. But balancing the meals rather than taking something away.

“It’s about, knowing the healthy choices and teaching my body to say just have one biscuit, don’t have the whole packet.

“And be aware of what you eat.”

For Pania, the key is about re-education.

“Maori die young, because of our unhealthy lifestyle,” she said.

“Our father died in his ‘50s.

“We had a sister who died in her ‘30s.

“They chose to live hard lifestyles when young and they paid the price.

“You only get one body. It’s about getting a longer life so you can live to see your grand kids.”

And Pania is starting the lessons with herself.

“I have to make these changes otherwise I won’t be able to see my grand kids either,” she said.

“We were taught to add butter on corn, to add cream with mash.

“We were taught to cook with fat – not to use the George Forman. So for me it’s about breaking that stuff going through whakapapa, breaking the cycle.

“My mum did what she knew. She didn’t purposely do things to get you fat. She was a product of what she was taught. For me it’s about re-education through the whole family. So your kids and kid’s kids come through without using the butter and a pile of fat.

“As Maori, as a culture we need to learn.”

“The purpose of this guide is to make it easier for people to grow food at home,” explained Cheryll McMorran, the guide’s main author.  “We’ve covered all of the main fruiting plants you can grow in the Top of the South, from almonds to tamarillos.”

Katy Steele, Nelson Environment Centre’s Sustainability Manager, said the aim is to encourage people to grow more food at home: “It’s cheaper and healthier.  And our climate means that a wide range of plants will grow.”

Producing the guide was a group effort.  “I’d like to thank all the people who contributed to the guide,” said Cheryll.  “It’s great to have had input from growers and gardeners from right across the Top of the South.”

Developing the resource was no small undertaking, with 60 pages of text and drawings. As well as ‘how-to’ guides on growing 30 different fruiting plants, it also covers planning, planting and pruning.       

To download a copy of the guide, go to www.nec.org.nz/growing-fruit-and-nuts

The project is a joint Nelson City Council, Nelson Marlborough District Health Board, Plunket initiative.  Jan Fryer, Plunket’s Volunteer Services Leader, says more and more Nelson Families are choosing to bike for their everyday transport. 

“Hiring out trailgators is a natural extension to our car seat hire scheme and links very well to Plunket looking at environmentally sustainable initiatives and encouraging physical activity for families,” she said. “With the fantastic cycleways that Nelson has, it is great to work collaboratively with other agencies to promote safe cycling.”

Marg Parfitt, Nelson City Council’s Active Transport and Road Safety Coordinator, said the scheme has been set up to make cycling more affordable for families.  “The trailgator is perfect for kids who have grown too big for bike seats but do not yet have the skills to bike independently.”   

For more information contact Plunket on 5483343 or visit the rental scheme offices at 9 Paru Paru Road, between 10am and 12 noon Monday to Friday.

..the latest must-have go-go gadget.... the 'Trailgator' in action

Our first success story comes from Tasman Rugby League!  They ran 7 weeks of modified rugby league games culminating in the Primary Schools Rugby League Tournament and prize giving with 8 primary schools and over 80 kids.  KiwiSport paid for buses to transport the kids to and from the Tahunanui Playing Fields each week and the coaching time required in schools and at the games over the 7 week programme.  Tasman Rugby League, through their funds and sponsorship, covered the rest and the end result was simply magnificent! 

Pic: NZ Warriors Simon Mannering and Michael Luck with Tahunanui School rugby league team

Not only did the kids learn fundamental skills associated with ALL sport, they engaged in a sport that has not been available in this region for a number of years.

To find out more about KiwiSport, including how to apply for the next round of funding, go to: http://www.tasmanregionalsports.org.nz/index.php?page=kiwisport

(Dave Tippett, Tasman Regional Sports Trust)

Last year New Zealand had 1306 taking part in the Big Latch On, with just over a hundred in Nelson Marlborough. This year is set to be even bigger, carrying on the annual record breaking trend set since the first Latch On in 2005.

The Big Latch On - Marlborough

Every year The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) sets a new World Breastfeeding Week theme, this year it is “Breastfeeding – just ten steps the baby friendly way”.

Last year more than 500 World Breastfeeding week events took place globally involving more than 800,000 participants. The Big Latch On celebrates mums and babies; promotes the benefits of breastfeeding for babies, mums and society at large; and sends a message that breastfeeding in public is acceptable and will be supported. It is a great opportunity to get community recognition of the great work these breastfeeding mothers are doing.

The benefits of breastfeeding for mother and baby are many and varied – not least of which breast milk is easily digested, free, always fresh and readily available.

Breastfeeding helps baby to develop and grow physically and emotionally, assists in protection from chest, ear, and urine infections, and meningitis.  It decreases the risk of Sudden Unexplained Death in Infancy (SUDI) and there is evidence of a reduced risk of allergies, eczema and asthma.  It also helps reduce the risk of obesity. 

For mums, breastfeeding helps the recovery process from birth, provides opportunity for that intimate connection with your baby to develop, and reduces the risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer.  (see www.breastfeeding.org.nz)           

For more information on the national event see www.womens-health.org.nz , email isis@womens-health.org.nz, or call 09 520 5295