Center for the study of community health

Contents

1 body and soul

body and soul

A Celebration of Healthy Eating and Living

Body & Soul is a program that has helped members of African American churches across the country to eat more fruits and vegetables. In time, your church may expand the program to help members make other healthy choices, such as becoming more physically active!

Body & Soul was developed by the National Cancer Institute to promote healthy eating and active lifestyles in African American Churches nationwide. Reverend Donald L. Solomon, Sr., and Pastor Ronnie Williams of Congregations for Public Health were among the fiver pastors in the Body & Soul Pastor Review Group.

Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below were not developed by UAB but are available through the National Cancer Institute’s Research-tested Intervention Programs (RTIPs). We have posted and annotated them here in order to allow our congregations ease of access to and understanding of the materials.

Manuals

This guide helps new churches start the Body & Soul program by employing pastoral leadership, providing educational activities, creating a healthy eating environment, and offering peer counseling.

This handbook helps counseling coordinators for Body & Soul to develop and maintain a successful Peer Counseling program.

This handbook provides communication skills and tools for Body & Soul Peer Counselors to help others eat healthier.

Videos

This video introduces your church to the Body & Soul Program.

Together with the handbook, this video provides information, educational scenarios, and activities to help develop the communication skills of Peer Counselors.

This video, created by Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, encourages healthy dietary practices.

Cookbook

A collection of healthier versions of recipes you love.

posters & flyers

A description of the Body & Soul program and how it works.

Examples of fruits and vegetables from 5 basic colors, with each color representing different important nutrients.

An easy way to remember how much is 1 serving of fruits and vegetables.

Explains how eating fruits and vegetables could help manage weight and lower risks of certain diseases for adults.

How eating fruits and vegetables helps children lower chances of disease, develop good habits, and grow healthy and strong.

How many servings of fruits and vegetables people need each day, based on gender, age, and activity level.

Fruits and vegetables contain many vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytochemicals that the body needs to help protect health.

Congregational Health Index:
A Self-Assessment and Planning Guide

A collection of healthier versions of recipes you love.

Worksheets and Tools

A form to help church teams plan their Body & Soul program.

A blank form for planning educational activities.

Some examples of evaluation questions for a congregation’s Body & Soul program.

A needs and resource assessment for community partner organizations thinking about implementing the Body & Soul program.

OTHER

Certificate template for Body & Soul participants.

The role of African American churches and multiple practices that churches employ to engage members. Also includes scriptures that apply to the Body & Soul program.