Health & Wellness Workshops

Provides an overview of cognitive health, nutrition, and the relationship between lifestyle medicine and improved brain health outcomes. Individuals can promote brain health throughout their life by adopting healthy habits like regular exercise, eating a balanced diet, engaging socially and intellectually, and ensuring enough quality sleep. Research confirms that nutrition plays an important role in brain health. Your brain is a complex part of your body controlling thought, memory, emotion, touch, motor skills, vision, breathing, temperature, digestion, hunger and every process that regulates our body including energy in and energy out. In order to choose what food you should eat for thought, start giving some thought to food. 

Wednesday 11/6 5-6pm
Virtual Workshop (link will be sent upon registration)

COST: $25 for members, $35 for non-members

Learn about how food fuels your body. Our ability to run, bicycle, ski, swim, and more hinges on the capacity of the body to extract energy from ingested food. As potential fuel sources, the carbohydrate, fat, and protein in the foods that you eat follow different metabolic paths in the body, but they all ultimately yield water, carbon dioxide, and a chemical energy called adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Think of ATP molecules as high-energy compounds or batteries that store energy. Anytime you need energy—to breathe, to tie your shoes, or to cycle 100 miles—your body uses ATP molecules. Our daily food choices resupply the potential energy that the body requires to continue to function normally. This energy takes three forms: carbohydrate, fat, and protein. 

Wednesday 11/13 5-6pm
Virtual Workshop (link will be sent upon registration)

COST: $25 for members, $35 for non-members

Learn the ways nutrition prevents age-related deterioration of the microbiome similar to the age-related decline of other biologic processes. As people age, their bodies lose the ability to repair damaged cells, and they are more likely to experience a variety of health problems. This includes digestive health too. Aging is a risk factor for several GI disorders , such as stomach sensitivity, acid reflux, constipation, diverticular disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and colorectal cancer . Very little is known about how the aging process affects the body's ability to digest, absorb, and retain nutrients such as protein, vitamins, and minerals. Take home ideas for making meals and snacks high in fiber a little easier.

Wednesday 11/20 5-6pm
Virtual Workshop (link will be sent upon registration)

COST: $25 for members, $35 for non-members

The basic components for our complicated immune system can be found in a balanced and varied diet, mostly plant based, nuts, seeds, whole grains and with adequate protein and fats. Rather than focusing on single foods, understand how both macro (protein, fats and carbohydrates) and micro (vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals) nutrients work together to build a strong defense. These nutrients influence the immune system, our inflammatory response and overall health and well being. No one food or supplement can prevent illness but you may help support your immune system by including some specific nutrients in your overall eating plan on a regular basis. Watch this video to get started!

Wednesday 11/27 5-6pm
Virtual Workshop (link will be sent upon registration)

COST: $25 for members, $35 for non-members

Take advantage of all the YMCA has to inspire you to live a healthy life. Sign up for our FREE 30-day nutrition challenge! Healthy eating starts at your own table with finding healthy recipes and cooking with a variety of foods. We invite you to look Beyond the Table when thinking about your health and the environment. Choices we make daily, including what we’re going to eat and drink, can make a big difference — both now and in the future. Healthy and sustainable food can be a powerful driver for change. Sign up for this nutrition challenge and increase your consumption of a variety of fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains.Fill half of your plate with fruits and vegetables, one quarter with protein and one quarter with a starchy vegetable or grain. Personalize your plate by including foods that you prefer from each food group. A healthy eating style can be as unique as you!

What's on your plate? Are you making every bite count? Take the quiz to find out and get personalized resources to Start Simple with MyPlate.

Examples of meals using the plate method

Incorporating My Plate at Fast Food Restaurants

My Balanced Plate for Teens

Home Cooking 

Join our FREE "Reportion Your Plate" Nutrition Challenge by clicking the link below! Start anytime- and get ready to live a healthier life!

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