Sponsored by: Northeast Earth Coalition, Partners for Health Foundation and Union Congregational Church

DATES: June 1, June 8, and June 22, 2024

LOCATION: Assembly Room, Union Congregational Church, 176 Cooper Avenue, Montclair, NJ 07043

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION:

Danielle Medina (Fit N Play Mama LLC) offers a transformative four-series presentation where families and community members can learn to cultivate a love for plant-based cooking and wellness through interactive culinary experiences and garden yoga movement exercises. This series empowers families to embrace a healthy lifestyle by incorporating gardening, community building, nutritious eating, and daily movement into their daily routines.

OBJECTIVES:

To educate families about the benefits of plant-based eating and its positive impact on overall health and well-being. To provide practical culinary skills and recipe ideas for preparing delicious and nutritious plant-based meals that the whole family will love. To promote physical activity and mindfulness through garden yoga movement exercises, fostering a holistic approach to wellness.

PRESENTER:

Danielle Medina is actively growing the whole food plant-based & fitness community in New York City and beyond. She is the creator of Fit N Play Mama LLC, a lifestyle coaching educational service for adults and children. She offers consultations, and classes as well as workshops to teach the importance of staying active and eating healthy throughout life. As a certified fitness/ yoga expert, culinary educator, nutritionist, and mom, she focuses on empowering her clients by providing them with easy and practical mindful fitness routines and meal plan cooking guides.

Danielle Medina was a distinguished panelist at the 2nd Annual Plant-Based Nutrition & Health Conference at SUNY Downstate in Brooklyn, New York, where she presented on Plant-Based Nutrition and Athletic Performance. Her expertise in this field was further recognized through her work with the Plant Powered Metro New York, NYC Health + Hospitals, New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, and her recent content contribution to Global Vegan Lifestyle and Whole Food Living magazines. In addition, Danielle’s exceptional public speaking skills earned her Club President for Unity East Toastmasters and 1st place in the Brooklyn Toastmasters International area speech contest. Whether she is writing articles, conducting interviews, or teaching her educational webinars, classes, and workshops, Danielle Medina loves sharing her knowledge with a variety of audiences on taking back their health and living their best life.

DANIELLE MEDINA’S DEGREES AND CERTIFICATIONS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

• Bachelor of Science Degree Food Science and Nutrition – Brooklyn College
• Aerobic and Fitness Association of America
• American Council of Exercise
• National Academy of Sports Medicine
• Registered Yoga Teacher
• Karma Kids Yoga
• Prenatal and Postpartum Fitness
• Youth Fitness Specialist
• Plant-Based Nutrition – eCornell T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies
• Forks Over Knives Online Ultimate Cooking Course
• Food For Life Instructor – Physicians Committee For Responsible Medicine

SESSIONS OVERVIEW:

Session 1: Plant-Powered Cooking Basics

• Introduction to plant-based eating and its health benefits.
• Hands-on cooking demonstration of simple and nutritious plant-based recipes.
• Garden yoga movement exercise focused on mindfulness and relaxation

Session 2: Growing Your Garden, and Sustaining a Healthy Style 

• Overview of gardening basics and how to start a family garden. Gardening tips for growing your own food
• Garden yoga movement exercises to promote physical activity and connection with nature.
• Strategies for incorporating plant-based eating and daily movement into your family’s routine.
• Meal planning tips and resources for maintaining a healthy and balanced diet.

Session 3: Exploring Flavorful Plant-Based Cuisine

• Introduction to different plant-based ingredients and their culinary uses.
• Cooking techniques for maximizing flavor and nutrition in plant-based meals.
• An interactive cooking workshop where families can create plant-based dishes.
• Final cooking demonstration featuring family-friendly plant-based recipes.
• Celebration and reflection session with a garden yoga movement exercise to honor the journey toward wellness.

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