Tashara M. Leak has been named a 2025 Woman of Distinction by the New York State Senate for her significant contributions to improving adolescent health in low-income communities. Selected by State Sen. Zellnor Myrie, Leak focuses on enhancing nutritional access and education, believing adolescents play a vital role in household dietary choices. She developed programs, including the Advanced Cooking Education 4-H After School Club, to teach and engage young people in healthier eating without sacrificing cultural food preferences, emphasizing positive reinforcement rather than restriction in dietary advice.
"A lot of my work is about increasing access to healthy food, in New York City and in upstate New York," Leak said. "I mostly work with adolescents, who are change agents in low-resource households. Often these adolescents are 'adultified' and drive household food choices."
"I never say to adolescents, 'Don't eat unhealthy foods.' They don't like to be restricted. Instead I focus on encouraging them to eat more of the healthy foods they already enjoy," Leak said. "Frequently, with young people, there's a lack of awareness. It's also important that they know that they don't have to abandon their cultural food norms to be healthy."
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