Women of the ELCA

Here’s my beef with healthy eating. I want to do it. I really do. But society makes it difficult.

Take this morning for example. I forgot my breakfast, which lately has consisted of two scrambled eggs (my cholesterol is just fine, thank you).  So I mosey down to our in-building deli and opt for the English muffin sandwich. (OK, so it had eggs plus ham and cheese  … )

When I ask for a wheat muffin instead of a WHITE ENRICHED FLOUR muffin, the server shakes her head. “Nope, we don’t have those.”

This made me think of my love of pasta. I adore pasta. But I can never walk into an Italian restaurant (or any other restaurant to my knowledge) and order wheat pasta. Never. I want wheat pasta!

Which then made me think about rice. Oh, how I love Thai and Indian cuisines, but what do they serve with their dishes? Rice. White rice. I always ask for brown rice in my hometown of Chicago (Berwyn, Illinois, really), but have never once received it.

I was in California recently and stopped by a Thai restaurant to pick up a quick dinner. The server actually asked me, before I had a chance to ask her, “Brown or white rice?” I asked her to repeat the question, just so I could savor it. Is California heaven? (The opinions are mixed.)

Here’s the thing: I’ve been on a quasi-diet since Jan. 3. No enriched, processed grains. No sugar. More vegetables. I have been trying very, very hard. (Luckily, some  sugar-free candies and cookies are actually very good.)

But how can I be good if society doesn’t work with me?  The media, through the government, is claiming that one-third of us are obese (Body Mass Index over 30) and another third are overweight (BMI of 25-30).

Unless we eat at home all the time, we find restaurant portion sizes that are too big, and we’re gobbling up white carbohydrates because the alternatives are not there (at least where I live).

So my idea is to start a grass-roots initiative. When you go to a restaurant, ask your server what healthy carb choices are available. Let’s put brown rice and wheat pasta on the table! And raise us up some healthy women and girls.

P.S.: Don’t even get me started on vegetables.

Terri Lackey is managing editor of Lutheran Woman Today magazine and has consumed fewer processed carbs so far this year than any other staff person.

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A few months ago, I read an article on The New York Times’ Web site that described the resurgence in what they called “the needle arts.” The writer said that young people—men and women—were learning to sew, quilt, knit and even embroider. I thought, “Well, good for them—catching up with what Women of the ELCA has known for decades.”

Then I wondered: How can our organization use this renewed interest in needle arts to get more women involved in our groups?  If there are women who want to learn these skills, which many of us have been practicing for years, shouldn’t we find a way to connect?

Here’s an idea: Organize “skills swaps.” Put up a bulletin board or a sign-up sheet or something in the church and ask members who want to learn a skill and members who have skills to put up notices.

Imagine something like “Want to learn to knit? I’ll teach you if you will show me how to program my cell phone.” Or maybe “Expert scrapbooker willing to share her design secrets in exchange for help with scanning and storing photos on her computer.” Or maybe, “I love to bake cookies! I’ll teach you to bake if you teach me how to get on Facebook .” Or “Teach me beading and I’ll help you start your own blog.”

If it were my mom’s posting, it would read “Teach me to program my Garmin GPS  and I can help you set up a budget and think about a savings plan for your retirement.” My mom is good at financial stuff. Not so good at computer-based technology.

These could be one-time meetings or ongoing, whatever seems appropriate for learning that particular skill and whatever the parties agree to. Believe me, if you offered to teach me to knit, it would take more than one or two sessions!

The idea is to build relationships and learn new things. And it doesn’t cost any money. Maybe groups will form to keep connections going based on their skill interest, even if they only meet online or once or twice a year for coffee.

What do you think? Would you be willing to try this in your congregation? Do the women in your congregational unit have skills they’d enjoy sharing?

Kate Elliott is editor of Lutheran Woman Today magazine.

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