Local community stakeholders band together in the name of good health
The ingredients list for Chef Osman Rodas’ Salmon Power Bowl recipe looks ordinary enough: garlic, olive oil, ginger, spinach, things like that. If there is a surprise to be found, it is probably the blueberries.
But the real rock star is one most people probably aren’t quite as familiar with.
“The menu today is based on polyphenols,” said Chef Osman, owner of Paro’s Restaurant in Mandeville. “I wanted this dish to be polyphenol-rich.”
As he went on to explain, polyphenols are micronutrients that occur naturally in certain plants, including all those foods listed above. Packed with antioxidants, they have been shown to offer protection against development of certain cancers, as well as benefiting people suffering from any of a variety of chronic conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure and others.
Chef Osman was sharing his recipe, and his nutritional insights, as part of a quarterly cooking demonstration series hosted by Healthier Northshore, a collective effort of local community stakeholders spearheaded by St. Tammany Health System and dedicated to improving quality of life and population health metrics in South Louisiana.
Since its founding in September 2020, Healthier Northshore and its 50-plus partners have been making inroads in the community in a variety of impactful ways. That has included everything from helping to start a community garden at NAMI St. Tammany’s Mandeville campus to a year-round presence at local fairs, festivals and other events – often with St. Tammany Health System’s Be Well Bus in tow – to offer health screenings and education on an array of health-related topics.
“We’ve all seen the numbers: Louisiana ranks 50th among U.S. states in far too many health rankings,” STHS Director of Community Engagement Anne Pablovich said. “The good news is that doesn’t have to be the case, and we’re convinced community education is key to that. If we can make it fun and engaging – which is kind of our specialty in South Louisiana – then, like Chef Osman’s Salmon Power Bowl, we’ve got all the ingredients for a win-win situation. And, really, that’s what Healthier Northshore is all about.”
Learn more about the Healthier Northshore initiative, including upcoming events, at HealthierNorthshore.health. Click here for Chef Osman’s recipe.
(An informative health and wellness article from the Chamber’s Live Better St. Tammany Committee member St. Tammany Health System.)