WCHS Celebrates National Nutrition Month with Community, Culture, and Healthy Living

Winnebago, NE – The Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare System (WCHS) wrapped up a successful National Nutrition Month, celebrating the natural medicines of food, family, movement, and cooking space. This year's activities were inspired by the book, The Seven Circles, which was read by the WCHS Wa i pi nagu (Diabetes) Program & Wellness Program’s book club earlier this year. This year’s activities focused on incorporating traditional, nourishing foods and encouraging healthy habits that honor cultural traditions. 

 "The goal of our book club is to read books as a team throughout the year to help us incorporate more cultural concepts in our activities. This first book was a good one. We enjoyed the great reminders of ways our relatives-maintained wellness in the past" said Camilla Barajas, Director of Wa i pi nagu (Diabetes) Program. "We watched families come together to cook, share stories, walk during a chilly day and tell us how wonderful they felt. This was a reminder that we have always had these traditional medicines: food, family, movement, and cooking space, we just forgot they were medicines." 

Throughout the month of March, WCHS hosted a series of events aimed at strengthening community connections through food and movement. To highlight the importance of physical activity, WCHS first hosted the Movement is Medicine Walk, encouraging community members to step outside and embrace the benefits of fresh air and exercise. Despite the chilly weather, many participated in the 10-minute lap challenge, proving that even a short walk can boost mental wellness and physical health. The first 150 walkers received a special sweatshirt, and all participants enjoyed snacks and camaraderie.  

Community members also gathered for a freezer meal workshop, "Our Cooking Space is Medicine," where they learned how to prepare healthy, homemade meals for themselves and their families. The hands-on workshop emphasized that food is more than just fuel; it is medicine that nourishes both the body and spirit. Later in the month, families took part in a Soup Cook-Off “Food, Family, & Community are Medicine,” competing to create the most delicious, heartwarming soup. Community members served as judges, tasting and voting for their favorites, while participants, whether parents and children or grandparents and grandchildren, received a $25 gift card to assist with ingredients.  

As National Nutrition Month comes to a close, WCHS encourages the community to continue prioritizing healthy eating, movement, and time with loved ones. “The lessons we celebrate this month should carry on all year long,” said Pilar Aldrich, Director of the Wellness Program. “Food, movement, and togetherness are essential to our overall well-being.”