Late afternoons at Bethlehem Church in Austin (www.bethlehemfree.org) there is a small group of women busy preparing a meal to serve to those who attend the MidWeek Ministries programming each Wednesday evening September – May.
What makes this a refreshing story? This group of women made 
an intentional decision a couple years back to provide not just food to those they serve but healthy, attractive and affordable meals!
The first step was to remove the high sugared lemonade and kool-aid, replacing it with ice cold water and decaf coffee. Some may say this is a brave group to tamper with the beverage of choice at most church functions! There tends to sacredness to the church potluck and the beverage that accompanies the food: Kool-Aid…usually red Kool-Aid!
Interestingly enough, exchanging the beverage was the step that opened the door to considering what else could be done; it was also the first step in improving behaviors in the children! Adults leading small group activities with the kids realized that the level of attention improved and poor or impulsive behaviors decreased.
Encouraged by the positive response and desire to do their part to improve the health of the church “body”, this small band of women began gathering produce from attender’s gardens and using the produce in the meal planning and preparation. Baked potatoes with fresh veggies and a sprinkle of cheese to top it off, homemade soups and salads, brown rice and beans have become some of the core meals that people are raving about! Recipes are simple and wholesome; offering some people with a first experience with a vegetable they’ve never tried or maybe tried but how it was served was unappealing in the past.
A BIG thanks goes out to the women at Bethlehem Church who risked exchanging green Jell-O, cookies and high calorie hot dishes with homegrown goodness that feeds the tummy and the soul!
Know of a person or organization making a refreshing difference in our county… let us spotlight them and inspire us all to make healthy living easier!
