Edition 31
February 2025
There is Greatness in You!
By Shola Oladipo, Food for Purpose CEO
Hello PY family, happy new month!
Wow, can you believe it's already February? I’m really grateful for another month to enjoy! February is extra special for me because it’s my birthday month. As I celebrate another year, I love to approach life with the idea that this year is mine to fully embrace and another opportunity to be great. Being great doesn’t have to be loud or flashy; it’s really about pursuing our purposeful goals and making a positive impact on those around us. Let's make this month wonderful!
This month, I invite you to boldly pursue your purposeful goals. Embrace a sensible pace and resist the overwhelming rush that life can bring if we let it. Whether you're chasing big dreams, focussing on personal growth, or seeking more joy, this is your year to be great!
Being great requires you to:
1. Believe That You Carry Greatness
You are capable, and as you explore your potential, you’ll find that everything you need to succeed is already within you - focus on cultivating it.
Speak Life Over Yourself: Speak life, start your day with affirmations like, “I am blessed and favoured.”
Celebrate Every Win: Don’t wait for the major milestones, make it a point to recognise and celebrate the small triumphs. These little victories are essential, as they build momentum and lead to greater achievements. Embrace them - they truly matter!
2. Cultivate Intentions Instead of Just Resolutions
Intentions have a lasting impact because they align with your purpose.
Define Your Desires: Clearly identify what you want, whether it's achieving financial freedom, improving your health, finding peace, or reaching success. Recognise these goals and actively pursue them.
Express Your Intentions in Writing: Display your goals in visible places, such as on your refrigerator, bathroom mirror, or in a journal. Keeping your vision in sight will inspire you daily.
3. Prioritise Your Peace, Health and Wellness
Your health is your foundation, and you must protect it - mind, body, and soul.
Eat to Thrive: There is nothing wrong with our African and Caribbean foods. Eat more vegetables, moderate protein and lower portions of starchy carbohydrates. Enjoy leafy greens and salad vegetables as the main portion on your plate. Drink plenty of water!
Move Your Body: Whether it’s dancing to gospel, afrobeat, and soca, or a stroll in the park, find something that feels good and keep moving.
Rest is Compulsory: Get your sleep. Turn off the phone, sip some soursop or chamomile tea, and let yourself rest.
4. Stop Apologising for Showing Up!
2025 is not the year to dim your light. Step boldly into spaces and take your seat at the table, or better yet, create your own table!
Own Your Voice: Speak up for what you believe in and be courageous in sharing your ideas and perspectives.
Invest in Yourself: Take that class, start your business, or work on the passion project you've been putting off. You deserve to invest in yourself.
5. Embrace Your Heritage and Stay Connected to Your Roots!
Our strength comes from those who came before us. Let’s honour that legacy while building our own.
Celebrate Your Culture: whether through food, music or clothes - don’t be ashamed of who you are
Build Community: Surround yourself with people who lift you up and remind you who you are when life gets tough.
6. Give Back to the Village
Greatness is even sweeter when shared - invest in others while you grow.
Mentor Someone: assist the next generation in finding their path.
Support those around you - extend grace to those who least expect it
7. Practice Gratitude
Be grateful – never forget to be thankful for your daily blessings.
Start Small: write down at least three things… do not despise your small beginning.
Reflect Often: take time to see how far you’ve come, even if you’re not where you want to be yet.
I hope these points resonate with you and help you on your February voyage. Remember, you carry greatness, and you must look after yourself. Be kind to yourself and extend grace to yourself and others. I would love to hear about your 2025 journey of greatness - let’s make this journey together.
Please send us your pictures, ideas, and stories! Show us how you’re stepping into greatness in 2025, whether it’s through your work, family, or passion projects.
Email us at admin@foodforpurpose.org or DM us on social media. Let’s inspire each other to be great in 2025!
Blessings!
Dr Shola Oladipo
CEO Says - There is Greatness in You!
Physical Activity Tips - Unlocking Your Fitness Potential With Music
Recipe of the Month - Chakalaka
A-Z of Soul Food - Dill
Diabetes Tips - Behaviour Change and Diabetes Management
Let’s Talk - Let’s Talk Meat
🎉Throwback to Our Christmas AGM!
As we settle into 2025, we can’t help but look back fondly on the fantastic time we had at our Christmas AGM! It was a celebration of our achievements, a chance to connect as a team, and the perfect way to close out a successful year. The energy and enthusiasm from that event are still carrying us forward as we tackle the exciting opportunities ahead. With big plans on the horizon, we’re more motivated than ever to make 2025 a landmark year for our business. Here’s to the journey ahead, let’s make it extraordinary!
Healthy Eating at The Excel Church
On Sunday, 9th February, our CEO, Dr. Shola will be visiting The Excel Church to deliver an inspiring talk on healthy eating during the service. It’s the perfect opportunity to learn practical tips for nourishing your body and making mindful food choices. Don’t miss this chance to hear from an expert and start your journey to a healthier lifestyle!
Fits Me Well for Men is Alive and Kicking!
After months of insight gathering, resource tailoring, branding, and session design, we are thrilled to announce that Fits Me Well for Men is here! This tier 2 weight management programme, designed specifically for Black men in Lambeth, is a collaboration between Guy’s and St. Thomas’ dietetic team, Diabetes Africa, and Food For Purpose.
Results from the October 2024 pilot are very encouraging. Physical activity sessions were a hit, with 100% of participants enjoying them, and group discussions fostered a strong sense of community. Our cooking sessions—featuring healthy twists on African and Caribbean traditional meals—are proving essential for supporting sustainable lifestyle changes.
Fits Me Well for Men is now accepting referrals! For more details, see the flyer.
National Days / Weeks / Month - February 2025
1st - 28th - Heart Month
3rd-9th - Race Equality Week
4th - World Cancer Day
6th - Time to Talk Day
The Healthy Church Initiative (HCI), our 6-week health programme tailored to the Black church community, has been making waves in Southwark! Both Peckham Methodist Church and RCCG Rock of Redemption recently completed the programme, and we couldn’t be more proud of their dedication and progress.
One participant shared their inspiring feedback:
“I am more aware of how I keep my body actively moving and ensuring that anything I consume contributes to developing a healthy body, to God’s honour and glory. I acknowledge that my body is the temple of God and have a responsibility to be a good steward of it.”
We are thrilled to see how both churches continue their health journeys, and we’re committed to supporting them every step of the way.
But we’re not done yet! There’s more to come in Southwark, stay tuned as we welcome more churches to the HCI programme soon. Together, we’re building healthier, stronger communities. Watch this space!
Unlocking Your Fitness Potential With Music
By Precious Oladipo
FFP Director & Physical Activity Lead
Have you ever been exercising and wondered why everything feels a little easier when your favourite tunes are playing? Well science say’s it’s not just in your head and that music works wonders on your physical performance!
A study confirmed that music can make exercise feel more enjoyable, boost your performance and make the workout just a little less gruelling. Whether you’re hitting a personal best for squats, or doing pilates in the living room, music enhances your experience. It’s the ultimate workout partner, motivating you to keep on keeping on!
The thing is: it’s all about the tempo. Faster beats encourage higher energy levels than slower songs. So if you’re prepping for a high-intensity workout, pick your favourite songs with higher BPMs to unlock the ✨ergogenic effect ✨ - a snazzier way of saying ‘enhanced physical performance’.
Enhanced physical performance is not the only benefit to gain here. Music helps your body work smarter by improving physiological efficiency, which means that your muscles and cardiovascular system use energy more effectively during your workout. This means that you can achieve the same results with less strain on your body. Another benefit is that music reduces your perceived exertion, making that final rep or last few minutes of your run feel less daunting.
So, the next time you go to the gym, your local park or your living room floor, curate a playlist filled with high energy tracks. Your body and mood will thank you!
Chakalaka
In the world of South African cuisine, there’s one dish that stands out as a true icon: Chakalaka.
Chakalaka is the ultimate South African side dish, cherished by many. It’s not just food; it’s a burst of flavour. Originating in the kitchens of Johannesburg’s migrant workers, who combined simple pantry staples with garden-fresh vegetables to create a flavourful accompaniment for pap (maize meal porridge), it’s a dish with a rich history. What began as a mix of whatever vegetables were available has evolved into a culinary masterpiece, packed with spices that tantalise the taste buds.
Over the years, Chakalaka has developed into a dish with layers of heat, sweetness, and a tangy kick that lingers - the perfect addition to any meal. It pairs beautifully with a braai (a South African BBQ) and complements roast chicken, lamb, or beef wonderfully. It’s equally versatile in plant-based menus, serving as a topping for baked potatoes or grilled vegetables.
It’s like a party on your plate - vibrant colours, wholesome ingredients, and a punchy flavour that makes every bite unforgettable.
Serves 4-6 as a side dish.
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 25–30 minutes
Total time: 40–45 minutes
Ingredients
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
2 medium carrots, grated
3-4 cups of cabbage, sliced (optional)
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 medium tomatoes, diced
1-2 chili peppers, diced (remove seeds to reduce heat)
1 cup baked beans in tomato sauce (optional)
1 teaspoon curry powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon chili flakes (optional)
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Method
Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and sauté until soft and translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
Add the garlic, curry powder, and smoked paprika. Cook for another minute, stirring frequently.
Stir in the tomatoes, bell peppers, carrots, and cabbage, cooking until they soften for about 5 minutes.
If you’re including baked beans, stir them in now. Simmer for another 5-7 minutes, ensuring everything is well combined and heated through. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
Transfer the Chakalaka to a serving dish and garnish with fresh herbs like parsley or coriander, if desired. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Picture courtesy of:
Dill
This month, we are celebrating dill for the letter D!
Dill or dill weed is a popular herb native to North Africa, Arabia and South Asia. It is known for its feathery green leaves, fresh aroma and distinctive flavour. It is widely used in many cuisines across the world and is valued for is culinary and medicinal properties.
Dill is commonly used as a seasoning in soups, salads, sauces and pickles. Dill’s slightly tangy flavour pairs well with fish, potatoes and yoghurt-based dishes. It’s best when used fresh, as it loses flavour rapidly when dried. However, freeze-dried dill leaves retain their flavour relatively well.
Nutritionally, dill:
Is rich in vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, vitamin C, and manganese
Contains antioxidants which helps protect the body’s cells from damage caused by free radicals
Dill can be purchased in many supermarkets, online and ethnic food stores across the U.K.
Behaviour Change and Diabetes Management
By Modupe Peters
FFP Director & Diabetes Lead
Hello everyone, and Happy New Year. The new year is always a great time to start afresh, set goals, and make healthier changes.
Diabetes is a chronic health condition in which blood glucose(sugar) levels are too high. It can be managed by insulin (type 1) and lifestyle changes in diet, exercise, medication, and insulin (type 2). While medication interventions are essential in managing diabetes, behaviour change is a cornerstone of effective diabetes management. Sustainable behaviour changes can significantly improve glucose levels, reduce complications, and improve quality of life.
Managing diabetes involves a set of lifestyle adjustments:
Monitoring blood glucose levels – this is a must for people with type 1 diabetes or those with type 2 diabetes on insulin or glucose-lowering medications (you can read more on this in our previous article on medication and type 2 diabetes). Regular testing provides insight into how food, activity and medication/insulin impact glucose levels
Healthy eating habits/carbohydrate counting/carbohydrate awareness – a balanced diet tailored to individual needs, with emphasis on carbohydrate counting for people with type 1 diabetes and carbohydrate awareness for type 2, can better help regulate blood glucose
Physical activity – regular exercise can help increase insulin sensitivity and support weight management
Medication adherence – taking prescribed medications as directed ensures stability in glucose levels
Stress management – stress can raise blood glucose levels, so managing it is crucial for better diabetes management.
Setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) goals will make your behaviour change process easier. Changing behaviour is not an overnight process; it requires persistence, patience and support. We will explore what setting SMART goals will likely look like in practice and ways your healthcare providers can help change your behaviour towards diabetes management in the next edition of our purposeful newsletter!
Let’s Talk Meat
Excessive consumption of meat, particularly red and processed varieties, has been linked to an increased risk of various health issues, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers (notably colorectal cancer), and overall mortality.
Encouragingly, recent research indicates that meat consumption in the UK has seen a significant decline since 2019. This change appears to be largely driven by individuals reducing their portion sizes, which contributed to a 52% drop in overall meat consumption. Additionally, people are eating less meat on different days (which accounted for a 24% decrease), there are fewer meat eaters overall (a 17% reduction), and meat-focused meal occasions have fallen by 7%.
If you've made the decision to cut back on meat recently, we would love you to share your motivations and a picture of your plate!
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