Page 10 - Chehalis Tribal Newsletter - October 2024

10

HEALTH/WELLNESS

Deep passion for improving health

Patty Suskin’s commitment to
Native families will be missed DĂŬĞ ĨĂŵŝůLJ ŵĞĂůƐ Ă ƉƌŝŽƌŝƚLJ ŝŶ LJŽƵƌ ŚŽŵĞ͘

For more than 20 years, Patty Suskin made tŽƌŬ ƚŽǁĂƌĚ ŽĨĨĞƌŝŶŐ ƚŚƌĞĞ ŵĞĂůƐ Ăƚ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ ƚŝŵĞ ĞĂĐŚ ĚĂLJ
a lasting impact on Native families through her /ŶǀŝƚĞ ĞǀĞƌLJŽŶĞ ŝŶ LJŽƵƌ ŚŽŵĞ ƚŽ ƐŚĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ĨĂŵŝůLJ ŵĞĂů ƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌ
dedication to health and wellness.
As a registered dietitian nutritionist and
diabetes care and education specialist, she
played a key role in improving nutrition,
supporting breastfeeding mothers and
promoting diabetes prevention. Her work
strengthened the bonds of community and well-
being across the region.
Patty made the decision to step away
from her roles to be closer to her family and
grandchildren, despite being deeply beloved Coordinator for the Squaxin Island Tribe. She
by the communities she served. Her passion offered personalized support to those managing
for improving the health of Native families was or at risk for diabetes, encouraging healthier
evident in everything she did. lifestyles and long-term wellness.
While we will miss her leadership, we fully Patty was a passionate advocate for physical
support Patty in following her heart. She activity, inspiring both her co-workers and the
deserves this next chapter surrounded by those community to stay active. During the COVID-19
she loves most. pandemic, she quickly adapted to virtual
Patty worked closely with SPIPA’s Women, consultations, ensuring families remained
Infants and Children (WIC) program, providing supported through uncertain times.
essential nutrition education and breastfeeding Her commitment to health, compassion and
support. Her efforts empowered families to cultural sensitivity has left a lasting legacy in the
make informed choices, improving the health of lives of the families she served. We wish her all
mothers and children. the best as she takes this well-earned time to be
In addition, Patty served as the Diabetes with her family.

Build strong relationships one meal at a time

DĂŬĞ ĨĂŵŝůLJ ŵĞĂůƐ Ă ƉƌŝŽƌŝƚLJ ŝŶ LJŽƵƌ ŚŽŵĞ͘
tŽƌŬ ƚŽǁĂƌĚ ŽĨĨĞƌŝŶŐ ƚŚƌĞĞ ŵĞĂůƐ Ăƚ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ ƚŝŵĞ ĞĂĐŚ ĚĂLJ
/ŶǀŝƚĞ ĞǀĞƌLJŽŶĞ ŝŶ LJŽƵƌ ŚŽŵĞ ƚŽ ƐŚĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ĨĂŵŝůLJ ŵĞĂů ƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌ
Making family meals n Youth understand
a priority in your their family’s traditions
home can bring and values.
everyone together. n Traditions are
Work toward created around
offering three food and meals.
meals about the
same time each Eat together
day. Invite everyone Plan a meal with
in your home to your entire family
share the meal together on most days. If your
in a designated spot that’s family is not used to eating
free of distractions. together, start with one or two
family meals each week. Gradually
Benefits of eating together increase until your family is eating
n Youth do better in school. one meal together every day.
n Kids have fewer behavioral Develop healthy eating habits n Taste new foods together. Keep it simple
problems. n Don’t force anyone to eat. n Meals don’t need to be fancy.
n Teenagers are less apt to use n Cook one meal for the family. Sit together
alcohol or drugs. Kids and adults eat the same food. n Make quick and easy
n Children and teens say they n Serve normal size servings n Eat at the table or counter. sandwiches, soups and salads.
like having time to talk to the to yourself and offer child-size n Turn off the television. n Plan to have leftovers. Cook
adults in their lives. servings to your child. n Don’t text or talk on phones. enough to serve at two meals.
n Communication between n Let everyone decide how n Share family traditions, foods n Children like to eat what they
adults and kids improves. much they will eat. and stories. help to cook.
dŚŝƐ ŝŶƐƚŝƚƵƚŝŽŶ ŝƐ ĂŶ ĞƋƵĂů ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƚLJ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƌ͘
tĂƐŚŝŶŐƚŽŶ t/ ĚŽĞƐŶ’ƚ ĚŝƐĐƌŝŵŝŶĂƚĞ͘

dŚŝƐ ŝŶƐƚŝƚƵƚŝŽŶ ŝƐ ĂŶ ĞƋƵĂů ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƚLJ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƌ͘
tĂƐŚŝŶŐƚŽŶ t/ ĚŽĞƐŶ’ƚ ĚŝƐĐƌŝŵŝŶĂƚĞ͘