Activities that encourage church members to eat more fruits and vegetables are the heart of Body & Soul. These can include workshops, cooking demonstrations, taste tests, and many others.

Such activities help in three ways:

• Church members learn about health.
• They get the chance to try new types of fruits and vegetables.
• They gain skills to change their eating habits.

The more activities you offer, the more church members are exposed to fruits and vegetables and are motivated to eat more. Body & Soul activities begin with a kick-off event. This is followed by a range of learning activities. Remember to celebrate the church’s success along the way, too.

THE BODY & SOUL KICK-OFF EVENT
The launch event sets the tone for your whole program. This event:

• introduces the program to the congregation,
• inspires members to take charge of their health, and
• excites members about activities that will take place at the church.

Make sure the event features many colorful and tasty fruits and vegetables. This will help get everyone excited about what’s to come. Examples of kick-off events include a Body & Soul Sunday; a health fair; a prayer breakfast, healthy lunch or dinner; or a healthy picnic. At the kickoff, be sure to give out a calendar of future events. Members can commit to the program by signing a pledge. The pledge is in The Body & Soul Program Guide. Click here to download the pledge (PDF*: 16 kb).

* You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader plug-in to view and print the guide. Click here to download.

ONGOING CHURCH ACTIVITIES
Learning activities inform and inspire the congregation. Church members learn how and why to eat more fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Include activities that appeal to different groups within the church such as:

• Workshops on healthy eating; weight control; container gardening; preventing and controlling high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer; financial planning and budgeting
• Nutrition education activities in Sunday schools, men’s meetings, or other group meetings
• Tours of the produce department in a local grocery store
• Demonstrations and classes on healthy ways to prepare and cook food
• Tasting parties with fruits and vegetables (e.g., smoothies, different types of fruits and vegetables)
• Messages about healthy eating and living in church bulletins and newsletters, and on the church’s web site.

CELEBRATING SUCCESS
A successful Body & Soul program means everyone has come together to improve their health. Celebrate!

Examples of celebrations include:

• Recognition of the planning team during service
• Certificates for people who participated in the program
• Healthy luncheon or dinner
• A picnic or cookout