December 2019 Newsletter
Student Spotlight: Folasade, Carver High School; Houston, TX
Meet Folasade, a senior at Carver high school in Houston, who is on a mission to spread positivity and encouragement! The Carver JKL program is completing their 1st semester and has been making strides with recruitment and peer to peer mentorship.
We can thank Folasade for taking the lead in setting the tone for the JKL program on the Carver campus. “Folasade thoroughly enjoys helping others and serving our community. She is the first to volunteer to help with community service and help recruit her peers for the program” – Ms Davis Cook.
Before the JKL program came to Carver, Folasade was involved in the Theater program and warriors for Christ clubs after school. She is such a super star that she still finds the time to participate in those clubs and in jkl without missing a session. When asked why she chose to join the jkjl program she replied “I wanted to be part of a community that will help me accomplish my fitness goals and support my passion for community service”.
After high school, Folasade would like to receive a nursing degree from her dream college – John Hopkins University – and become a pediatrician. We are so excited to see where her aspirations take her!
Win a Personal Video Message from Matthew McConaughey!
Do you or someone you love need some extra encouragement to just keep livin? Now is your chance to experience the pep talk of a lifetime from the one and only, Matthew McConaughey!
Donate at least $25 at jklivinfoundation.org/pep-talk NOW through DEC. 31st to be entered to win.
Tennessee Titans Annual Coat Drive
On Sunday, November 24th, our Nashville jkl programs gathered to lend a helping hand for the Tennessee Titans Annual Coat Drive.
Prior to the Titans-Jaguars game, fans were encouraged to participate in the team’s annual coat drive. New and gently used coats of all sizes were dropped off at one of several collection sites outside of the Nissan Stadium where our JKL students were stationed to collect them.
The following evening, our students gathered back at the stadium where they sorted 650 coats! After they finished sorting, the students were treated to a tour of the stadium and locker room! The evening concluded with a dinner hosted by the Titans organization.
The coats were picked up by six very thankful local non-profit organizations, who will in turn distribute them to the communities they serve. Giving back is a huge part of our programming and we are so grateful to the Tennessee Titans for including us in this worthy cause!
Animo City of Champions visit The Tree of South LA. For a Yoga Class
It was a sunny, fall afternoon when students from our Animo City of Champions JKL program took a mile jog from their campus to the Tree of South L.A. for a private yoga session.
It was the first time ever taking a yoga class for more than half of the students who attended. The Tree of South L.A. provides the perfect environment to elevate your yoga practice. The session was led by a great instructor, Amisha the Unicorn, who kept the students engaged, excited, and challenged by new and familiar movements.
The session included basic yoga movements with a current HipHop soundtrack. Once finished, students were energized and wanted more! We are grateful for our relationship with the Tree of South L.A. and look forward to bringing more JKL students soon!
JKL Students Learn About Healthy Snack Swaps
Pilates instructor Lauren Gold, who is currently studying to be a Registered Dietician, stopped by our JKL program at Hamilton High School in Los Angeles recently to help share her knowledge with our students.
She taught our teens about how to read nutrition labels and helped explain the difference between natural sugars and added sugars. She also presented some helpful ideas about healthy swaps for students’ favorite snacks, for example, Triscuits instead of Takis!
Students loved sampling the food she brought along, including Larabars and apples dipped in almond butter! We look forward to welcoming Lauren back soon!
Beller Nutrition Recipe of the Month
Chilled Black Bean Salsa
Rachel Beller MS, RDN
I absolutely love recipes that pack in heaping amounts nutritional value, and this salsa is one of them. And there’s no mistaking it for the typical side dish— it’s hearty and can stand alone as a main dish for dinner any night as it contains all the essentials of a meal…tons of veg, protein and a beneficial fat. The black beans not only provide 15g of protein per serving, but also pack in an impressive 15g of fiber as well! The tomatoes provide protective lycopene and the avocado is not only a healthy fat, but it contains 20 different vitamins and minerals plus a generous amount of fiber. Cilantro is another nutritional all-star providing and is a top pick when it comes to perking up foods with a little extra nutrition. It may aid in the body’s natural production of digestive enzymes − helping to speed up the breakdown of food and keeping your tummy calm and happy.
Makes: 4 servings
Ingredients:
• 3 cups black beans, no salt added
• 2 scallions, sliced thinly
• 1 jalapeno, chopped
• 3 cups cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
• 2 avocados, sliced
• 2 large yellow bell peppers, chopped
• ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• Himalayan or sea salt and pepper, to taste
Directions: Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve.
Camila’s Tips
Sweet Potatoes with Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Craisins
Looking for a yummy holiday side dish that will impress guests and isn’t too hard to make? Try you must try our recipe for these Sweet Potatoes With Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Craisins … It combines two of our all-time favorite holiday veggie sides: sweet potatoes + Brussels sprouts. It’s a really easy dish to make and takes only about 10 minutes to prep the entire thing (giving you more time to cook everything else!).
Ingredients:
• 2 lbs frozen Brussels sprouts
• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper
• 2 large sweet potatoes (peeled and cubed)
• 1.5 tbsp real maple syrup
• 1/8 tsp cinnamon
• 1/3 cup craisins
View the Recipe on Womenoftoday.com
Swag of the Month:
New Long Sleeve Tee
Just in time for those chilly days ahead!
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