Women’s Health Night, now in its 16th year, has always been about providing McLean County residents with information about various health issues and personalizing it so that they can take steps to improve their health. Created and organized by the Illinois Heart and Lung Foundation (IHLF), Women’s Health Night offers education and resources to thousands of people in order to improve their individual health and the health of the community. The 2014 event will again offer more than 80 booths of local health-related businesses, including free health screenings such as bone density measurement, blood pressure, skin cancer screening, and non-fasting glucose checks.
This year’s focus, however, aims to go beyond education to taking action and providing practical examples of just how to do that. “We really want to take the piece of education one step further,” says Sarah Gliege, Development and Events Manager for IHLF. “So this year, we have several features planned that will give people real and doable examples of how to start exercising, how to eat better, how to choose fresh food — so they can see that improving their health doesn’t have to be intimidating and difficult.”
Chef Ryan Hutmacher, an Illinois State University graduate and co-founder of Centered Chef in Chicago, will be the keynote speaker and a primary example of how small changes in life can make a huge impact on health. Ten years ago, Hutmacher was a 50-pounds overweight, pre-diabetic, hypertensive smoker when he decided something needed to change. He enrolled in culinary school and began to learn the impact of food choices on health. He also began to exercise, which further improved his physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Today Hutmacher enjoys educating others about the food choices they make and encourages them to utilize whole foods and buy locally. His message is to use food as fuel, and to make big changes through incremental steps when it comes to food and exercise.
In addition, Chef Ken Myska, owner/chef of Station 220 in Bloomington, will be doing food preparation demonstrations. His demonstrations will encourage parents to work with their children in the kitchen to help them learn about healthy food choices and preparation. Attendees will learn that the first step to health is a matter of small, positive choices regarding food.
Another focus will be on using local produce. For example, Station 220 works in partnership with Epiphany Farms to get locally grown produce. Information about the local Farmers’ Markets will also be available so that participants can learn more about how to obtain healthy, locally produced foods.
Taking the next step regarding exercise will also be a highlight to Women’s Health Night. “We will have hula hoop, yoga, and Zumba demonstrations throughout the evening,” explains Gliege. “We’re also planning to provide information about easy, accessible, and family-friendly fitness activities at our ‘Find Your Fitness’ booth, so we’re getting brochures and information from various local sports clubs, the park districts, the Constitution Trail — a variety of organizations. All kinds of activities are available in our own backyards that help people get and stay active.”
Health screenings, informational booths for health-related businesses and services, interactive food and fitness demonstrations, plus physicians and other health care providers will provide a wealth of information as well as practical next steps to become a healthier you. And, if that isn’t enough for you to put it on your calendar in ink, here’s something that might: It’s all free!
Women’s Health Night will be held Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at Illinois State University’s Bone Student Center. Doors open at
3 p.m. More information is available online at www.ihlf.org.