At the National Center of Excellence in Charlestown, Home Base is literally cooking up better health.On the menu for one of their cooking classes for veterans: roasted veggies and salmon — a recipe to strengthen and heal the body and the mind.Home Base is known for treating the invisible wounds of war, but caring for veterans and their families requires a whole health approach, and that includes nutrition.How you can help: Donate to Home Base”We’re learning so much about the really deep connection between the gut and the brain,” said Kathleen Hickey, a registered dietitian with Home Base. Hickey said it has never been clearer that nutrition is a critical part of our mental health journey.”It’s kind of this two-way street, so you can support your mental health, which may support gastrointestinal symptoms, but also supporting the gut health can, in turn, support brain health and mental health,” Hickey said. Brenda and Dennis McEleney believe it and live it. The husband-and-wife team has a combined 50 years of service in the U.S. Air Force. They stay active and are committed to the good practices they have learned through Home Base’s Warrior Health and Fitness Program, as well as cooking classes like this one.”I mean, what you put into your body is so important over the long haul,” Brenda McEleney said. “That just makes your life better.” “We’ve seen too many members of family and friends who didn’t take care of themselves leave too early,” Dennis McEleney said. “We made a decision that we want to take care of ourselves and get as many miles out of our bodies as we can.” The goal at Home Base is to try to make it easy, keep it real, and focus on adding good things to your diet. Kathleen Hickey’s three biggest tips for your meals are lean proteins, high-fiber carbohydrates and plenty of water.
BOSTON —
At the National Center of Excellence in Charlestown, Home Base is literally cooking up better health.
On the menu for one of their cooking classes for veterans: roasted veggies and salmon — a recipe to strengthen and heal the body and the mind.
Home Base is known for treating the invisible wounds of war, but caring for veterans and their families requires a whole health approach, and that includes nutrition.
How you can help: Donate to Home Base
“We’re learning so much about the really deep connection between the gut and the brain,” said Kathleen Hickey, a registered dietitian with Home Base.
Hickey said it has never been clearer that nutrition is a critical part of our mental health journey.
“It’s kind of this two-way street, so you can support your mental health, which may support gastrointestinal symptoms, but also supporting the gut health can, in turn, support brain health and mental health,” Hickey said.
Brenda and Dennis McEleney believe it and live it. The husband-and-wife team has a combined 50 years of service in the U.S. Air Force. They stay active and are committed to the good practices they have learned through Home Base’s Warrior Health and Fitness Program, as well as cooking classes like this one.
“I mean, what you put into your body is so important over the long haul,” Brenda McEleney said. “That just makes your life better.”
“We’ve seen too many members of family and friends who didn’t take care of themselves leave too early,” Dennis McEleney said. “We made a decision that we want to take care of ourselves and get as many miles out of our bodies as we can.”
The goal at Home Base is to try to make it easy, keep it real, and focus on adding good things to your diet.
Kathleen Hickey’s three biggest tips for your meals are lean proteins, high-fiber carbohydrates and plenty of water.