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For one New York nonprofit, healthy foods are about more than simply feeding the body. Good nutrition is also a powerful low cost support tool in addiction recovery, especially for individuals who rely on community based and nonprofit treatment programs.
Jamel Lewis is a Marine Corps veteran with a story and a new-found purpose. A mere two years ago, he was addicted to cocaine and living on a diet that consisted primarily of Honey Buns and ice cream.
Now? He is almost two years sober and runs a program dedicated to healthy cooking at Samaritan Daytop Village, located in the South Bronx.
Supporting Sobriety Through Healthy Habits
Lewis began his recovery journey in hospital after getting hit by a car in Albany. He transferred to the SDV 43rd Veterans Residential Treatment Program in Manhattan, thriving on the structure of the program and connection to a community.
During this time, he became an intern at Peer Alliance Recovery Center (PARC) and started to feel the benefits of keeping a healthy lifestyle. He also discovered a deep passion for helping others appreciate good nutrition. This led to him earning a peer educator qualification from the American Diabetes Foundation.
Nutrition as a Low-Cost Support in Addiction Recovery
Feeling the improvements in his attitude and energy levels after switching to a nutritious diet has Lewis convinced that food can be foundational for recovery of all types.
His program involves him demonstrating how to cook healthy, budget-friendly meals that fuel healing and addiction recovery. There is a doctor available to answer participants’ questions about nutrition and the body.
Teaching Sustainable, Budget-Friendly Recovery Skills
Lewis is a big fan of mantras and starts every cooking session with two: “I love myself today,” and “I am in alignment with reaching my goals.”
He talks about the benefits of the ingredients throughout each cooking demonstration. Whether the ingredient is filled with antioxidants or helps with digestion, the class hears about it. One of his biggest goals is to help the participants feel the way nutrition impacts their mood and improves their lives.
And there is mounting evidence that nutrition-rich foods can help repair the damage that substance abuse does to the brain and body. Healthy eating is also linked to a reduction in depression and anxiety symptoms. As Lewis notes, “Food is mood.”
As a nonprofit program, Lewis often works with working class and low-income clients. The goal is to teach individuals and families in recovery how to make affordable lifestyle changes that enhance their mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing and support their sustained sobriety.
Find Low-Cost Addiction Treatment Near You
If you’re looking for low-cost addiction treatment options, including programs that offer nutrition therapy and other supportive services, you have choices.
You can search for affordable rehab centers on Rehabs.org by payment options, including Medicaid, Medicare and sliding scale programs, or call
800-914-7089
(
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today.
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