Afghan Dastarkhwan Part 1: Typical Foods and Healthy Cooking

Nutrition Toolkit for Afghan Health Portfolio

Part 1: Typical Foods and Healthy Cooking

The first two modules give participants an overview of the food landscape in the United States and the importance of good nutrition. Experiential activities will guide participants as they choose fruits and vegetables to incorporate into their diets, learn about portion sizes, discover which foods freeze well at home, and bake using healthier sugar and fat substitutes. 

The modules will end with a recipe for Shorba and a story about Rabia, who remembers eating this healthy stew back home in Afghanistan with her family.

Afghan Dastarkhwan Nutritious Stew

This introductory lesson focuses on creating rapport with participants, getting to know their local food system, and building awareness of healthy eating and how it can prevent diet-related disease. After this lesson, participants will be able to understand concepts such as highly-processed food, hypertension and diabetes, and name 6 nutrition tips. Key learnings include:

  • Nutrition tips
  • Diabetes
  • Hypertension
  • Processed food and fast food

Materials Needed:
 

  • Tools (computer, pen, paper)
  • Presentation slides 
  • Video projector
  • Optional: actual fruits and vegetables

For Facilitators

Facilitation Guide

Facilitation Guide

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Module 1 slide preview


Slides

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Annex 1: Fruits and Vegetables Experiential Activity

Experiential Activity: Fruits and Vegetables

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For Participants

Six Nutrition Tips

Six Nutrition Tips from Nutrition Toolkit for Afghans
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Five A Day Portion Sizes

5 a Day portion sizes for Nutrition Toolkit for Afghans
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This lesson focuses on tips for staying healthy in the United States by cooking more at home. Participants will learn to recognize foods with many additives so that they can make healthier choices when they shop. They will also share healthy recipes and learn quick tips for making traditional meals healthier by reducing salt, sugar, and oil.

After this session, participants will be able to apply nutrition recommendations to their own food practices based on the previous lesson. They will explore healthy recipes as a group, identify ways to modify recipes to make them more nutritious, and engage their children in cooking for intergenerational benefits.

Key learnings include:

  • Avoiding additives & preservatives
  • Health benefits of cooking
  • Reducing oil, salt, sugar
     

Materials Needed:
 

  • Tools (computer, pen, paper)
  • Presentation slides
  • Video projector
  • Food packages from a local store if participating in experiential exercise

For Facilitators

Facilitation Guide

Facilitation Guide

Canva
Download PDF

 

Module 1 slide preview


Slides

Canva
English | Dari | Pashto

Download Powerpoint
English | Dari | Pashto
 

annex_2_thumbnail

Experiential Activity: Foods that Freeze Well at Home

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For Participants

Healthy Baking 
Sugar and Fat Substitutes

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English | Dari | Pashto

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English | Dari  | Pashto

Healthy Baking Recipe
 

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Video: Tips To Stay Healthy by Cooking

nrc-rim_module_2_-_tips_to_stay_healthy

English | Dari | Pashto | Playlist

Video: Shorba Recipe
 

Shorba Recipe Video

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