Center for the study of community health
Contents
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.
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.
posters & flyers
Examples of fruits and vegetables from 5 basic colors, with each color representing different important nutrients.
Congregational Health Index:
A Self-Assessment and Planning Guide
![CongregationalHealthINdex](https://sites.uab.edu/communityhealth/files/2020/11/CongregationalHealthINdex.png)