In his 1863 essay Concerning Spiritualism and Materialism, Ludwig Andreas Feuerbach stated, “Der Mensch ist, was er ißt.” This quote translates into English as ‘man is what he eats’. For over one hundred years people have been using the expression “you are what you eat.” Project Open Hand is a strong believer in the idea that food controls health. Eating a nutritious diet can improve your chances of a healthy future.
Sickness places individuals at a greater risk of malnutrition. As a result, individuals with HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, or other debilitating diseases have an increased need for healthy food. This is why Project Open Hand serves healthy meals and bags of groceries to its clients. One of the best ways you can fight an illness is through good dietary habits. The food you eat directly impacts your immune system’s ability to fight infection and your body’s ability to make use of medicine and other treatments. Eating well helps regain weight lost during an illness and increase strength. Furthermore, good nutrition reduces the risk of other diseases and, for individuals diagnosed with HIV, eating a nutritious diet can delay the onset of AIDS. A balanced, healthy diet provides the nutrients and energy that your body desperately needs while fighting an illness.
Project Open Hand’s chefs and dietitians create a menu of delicious and nutritious meals to improve the quality of life for the men, women, and children we serve. In addition to a regular menu, the chefs also prepare special menus for those with special dietary needs, including vegetarian, low-fat, diabetic and pureed meals.
From all of us at Project Open Hand, we wish you hope, love, and good health.
Project Open Hand Nutrition Services include:
- Healthful meals and groceries
- Free nutrition assessment, education, and informational materials
- Measurement and tracking of body composition (muscle, fat and water) using BIA (bioelectrical impedance analysis) technology to evaluate weight loss, maintenance, and gain.
- Information and referral for other nutritional resources in your community.
For more information, email our dietitian.
