OUR CREATOR’S TEMPLE
By Kimberly Cruz
Did you know that March is National Nutrition month? We’ll be taking advantage of this opportunity to bring awareness to the importance of healthy food and overall nutrition.
At Holbrook Indian School (HIS), we dedicate our efforts to educating the whole person. Though we primarily focus on academics, we also understand the importance of nourishing the spirit of each student as well as their physical beings.
The Bible tells us in Psalm 139:14 that our bodies were created in a fearful (awe-inspiring) and wonderful way. Every organ, muscle, bone, sinew, and cell has a purposeful function to help keep us upright, alive, and healthy. When we take care of our body intentionally, it serves us well. When we are neglectful of its needs, it begins the process of breaking down. Our cafeteria team strives to provide nutritious meals to our students while encouraging healthy eating habits.
In 2014, the Navajo Nation passed the Healthy Diné Nutrition Act. The purpose of this was to address the health issues of the high number of people affected by preventable diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and obesity.
Dynamics such as unemployment, transportation barriers, poverty, and limited grocery stores in remote rural areas magnify the hurdle of healthy food access. For this reason, we work diligently at HIS to provide nutritious food during mealtimes. This includes produce from our very own gardens!
One of the benefits of having a farm on campus is that our cafeteria often buys produce from our very own greenhouses and fields. Curly kale, salad, pumpkins, and melons are frequent menu items as a result. We are grateful that God has given us this opportunity and blessing to care for our students’ well-being in this way!
Having fresh vegetables and fruits at their fingertips—oftentimes items they have participated in growing—gives our students a firsthand experience, allowing them to witness the process from farm to table and take pride in making healthier food choices.
Our love for our students drives us to nourish not only their minds but their bodies and spirits, too. We are grateful to our supporters and generous friends for helping us care for our students the way God intended: healthily.
