OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center offers nutrition classes

From press release

Continuing research confirms that the food we eat has a major impact on our health, on how we function and on how we develop or avoid certain health problems.

Whether you are concerned about your blood pressure, cholesterol, your children’s diets, athletic performance or recipe modifications, the registered dietitians at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center offer one-session classes that can help.

“Tasty Ways to Lower Your Blood Pressure” will be offered from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, July 6. The class covers the basics of the D.A.S.H. (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet. Participants will discover that there are other ways to control blood pressure besides limiting salt intake.

“Eating to Lower Your Cholesterol” will be offered from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, July 20. This class explores the basics of a low-saturated fat, high-fiber eating plan. It is intended for those who plan to change their eating habits, or those who need to review a low-cholesterol eating plan, or those who need a push to get back on track.

During both classes, a dietitian will evaluate the participants’ current eating patterns and make recommendations for changes to help them meet their goals of blood pressure or cholesterol reducation. Participants will learn what their blood pressure and cholesterol readings mean, learn to calculate maximum grams of fat and saturated fat, learn what and how much to eat, and be instructed in reading labels.

Participants receive written materials explaining the eating plan as well as some recipes to try at home.

Intended for parents and their children ages 3 to 11, the fun and interactive “Healthy Eating for Healthy Kids” class explores proper portion sizes, the value of exercise and packing a lunch. The class will be offered from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, July 14.

All nutrition classes are held at the OSF Saint Anthony Center for Health, 5510 E. State St., Room 154. The fee is $20 for each class.

Registration by calling (815) 395-5025 is required. Space is limited to allow for discussion and questions and to ensure that sufficient materials are available.

OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, a Level I Trauma Center, is owned and operated by OSF HealthCare, an affiliate corporation of The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, Peoria. Its Web site is www.osfsaintanthony.org.

OSF Saint Anthony is the only Rockford medical center to earn the elite Magnet designation for nursing excellence for the second time. It is the highest award for nursing available in the United States, and only 2 percent of hospitals nationwide have achieved the four-year designation twice.