Antioxidants are chemicals that block the activity of other chemicals known as free radicals. Free radicals are highly reactive and have the potential to cause damage to cells, including damage that may lead to cancer. Free radicals are formed naturally in the body. Eat Real WHOLE Foods Nutrient-dense super foods offer a better bang for your buck. Most foods also have hidden benefits. Eat them every day to boost your intake of vitamins, minerals, and other key nutrients that benefit the body and the immune system Choose a VARIETY of Foods – Eat the RAINBOW All the different colors of natural whole foods contribute to the many different antioxidants that our bodies need to be healthy. Eat Seasonal & Local Farm to Table Seasonal eating is what nature intends us to eat. With each season comes unique food choices. Local eating ensures the freshest food options and the most nutritional density.

How will I use this handout in an adult nutrition education workshop? I would have stations set up for all individuals in small groups to have access to everything that is being discussed. To demonstrate “oxidation”, I will use apples. We will cut apples in half to expose the interior flesh. We will apply lemon juice to one side and nothing will be added to the other side. The lemon juice will represent how antioxidants prevent oxidation. As the class proceeds I will refer back to the apple as a visual aid to show and explain the browning process of the apple and how this is an example of how oxidation and free radicals effect our body. We will also discuss how the lemon represents the antioxidant to “protect” against oxidation and free radicals. This will lead into discussion of how antioxidants help in the fight against aging, cancers and other diseases associated with oxidation. There will be a variety of vegetables, fruits, spices, teas, nuts and seeds at each station to represent the variety of options we have to consume antioxidants on a daily basis. I would like to have a nutribullet or other small high powered blender available at each station to demonstrate how easy it is to prepare some raw food items that are easy, nutritious and packed with antioxidant power. Nutribullets are great to have handy for speedy nutriblasts or smoothie preparations. We would prepare a blended drink of greens, fruits and seeds in the workshop and have a tasting opportunity and discuss all the antioxidants that are being consumed in just one drink. This will demonstrate how easy it is to incorporate more nutrition on a daily basis and the accumulative effects on the body. Brief scene of how participants should respond during this workshop. This will be an interactive workshop for the participants. I want the adults to have an opportunity to use all their senses in the learning activities to ensure a strong sense of ownership of the nutritional concepts that I am sharing with them. By being engaged in preparation and tasting it is my hope that they will have confidence to go home and be able to implement some nutritional choices that will positively impact their health and the health of their families.