Edition 37
August 2025

 
 
 
 
 

Purpose in Motion

By Shola Oladipo, Food for Purpose CEO 

Welcome to our August edition of PURPOSEFUL YOU! Packed with insights you'll love.

Lately, I've been reflecting on purposefulness – yes, it’s an actual word! It inspired me to think of Food for Purpose. This divine-inspired idea started simply: food as a way to boost health and healing, demonstrate culture and faith, and lead a meaningful life.

Over time, it developed into programmes, partnerships, and a community that sees culture, faith, and health as connected. We’ve grown in size, depth, and influence.

Initially, FFP concentrated on nutrition workshops—community classes, tips on healthy eating, cooking, shopping on a budget. But soon, we realised that food is more than just food. It’s memory, identity, and a way culture communicates. For many Black families, suggesting to “eat healthy” without respecting tradition, affordability, or faith was not enough.

So, we made adjustments. We developed culturally relevant resources, faith-based health programmes, and spaces for discussions about how we eat and how to honour heritage and health. As we’ve expanded, so has our capacity to listen. Through research, partnerships, and lived experiences, we are no longer just a service — we’ve become a trusted voice shaping how faith, culture, and health intersect within Black communities.

We now train healthcare providers, develop tools for churches, mentor health champions. Our goal is to lead with insight, not assumptions. Looking ahead, we are continually exploring:

- The influence of faith on holistic health

- How culture and communication impact care

- Intergenerational holistic health and life stages

- Rest, rhythm, and emotional wellbeing

Our core belief remains that everyone deserves to be seen, heard, and cared for as a whole person—body, soul, spirit, and culture included. We incorporate science by making it relevant for those often excluded from the conversation.

As we move forward, we are excited for every parent choosing differently, every church opening its doors to health, every young person recognising their power over wellbeing — that’s our journey.

Thanks for growing with us. This isn’t just evolution — it’s purpose in motion.

Blessings!

Shola Oladipo

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  • Vibrant Midlife Conference

    • Last month, our CEO had the incredible honour of being a guest speaker at the Vibrant Midlife Conference, a powerful event dedicated to uplifting Black and Brown women navigating menopause.

      She truly enjoyed connecting with this inspiring community and sharing her insights on menopause and nutrition, with the goal of helping women feel empowered and supported during this transformative stage of life.

      Scroll down to see some highlights from the event! 

      For tips, resources, and inspiration, be sure to visit their website: https://www.vibrantmidlife.com/

  • Kings Fund - Integrated Care Summit 2025

    • On July 8th, our CEO attended the King's Fund Integrated Care Summit in London. The sessions were focused and thoroughly explored how the NHS 10-year plan could be implemented. Key sessions included ‘How digital technology is assisting those who work in or interact with health and care services,’ ‘Exploring international integrated care and what can be learnt,’ and ‘Working differently to deliver care closer to home.’

       

      Main take-home: the vital role of AI and the associated risks, delivering care nearer to home, and the importance of collaborating with voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector organisations and ICSs to improve health and care outcomes… Many challenges and opportunities remain to be understood. I still have more questions than answers! The main inspiration came from the exemplary work of Dr Gillian Orrow, a GP and Director of Growing Health Together - www.growinghealthtogether.org, a community-based project working with global amity communities and incorporating Black churches/faith groups into their programmes. Definitely someone to follow and collaborate with!

       One unusual but delightful highlight was meeting Quincy Dunbar, a Black male dietitian from Humberside. It was wonderful to see a male dietitian of Black African descent - long may it continue!

  • Cultural Awareness for Healthcare Professionals

    • One of the unique services we offer at FFP is Cultural Awareness for Health and Social Care workers, academia and researchers.

      On one of the hottest days of the year, our CEO delivered our introductory module to the physio and healthy living team members from Guys and St Thomas’ It was a fantastic session.

      Here is some feedback:

We look forward to delivering further sessions. If you are interested please contact us admin@foodforpurpose.org.

  • ARC 2.0 - Business Fayre

    • Our CEO had the great pleasure of speaking at Arc 2.0 - Business Fayre in London on Saturday, 19th July. This event was led by Michelle Watson, the author of Eikonic Woman. Dr Shola spoke about the importance of GENERATIONAL HEALTH to balance the quest for GENERATIONAL WEALTH, and the need for holistic balance as entrepreneurs. It was a real pleasure to see and speak with Pastor Peter Nembhard, Sam Onigbanjo and some amazing young entrepreneurs.

National Days / Weeks / Month - August 2025

 
 
 
 
 
 

We’re On the Move!

Our HCI engagement in Greenwich continues to grow, and we’re excited to share the latest updates!

On 26 July 2025, we had an amazing time delivering an HCI taster session at Christ Family Assembly Outreach as part of their church anniversary celebrations. Dr. Shola Oladipo and Precious led a vibrant session where we explored the importance of church health, sugar awareness, and got everyone involved in a fun dance fitness routine.

A heartfelt thank you to Pastor Richard Opedare and the wonderful congregation for their warm welcome and enthusiastic participation!

We’re grateful to Pastor Debo and Councillor Olu Babatola for helping open new doors, and we look forward to partnering with:

St. John’s Church, Plumstead

Sword of the Spirit Church, Charlton

Freedom Arena, Plumstead

The vision is gaining momentum, and we’d love your church to be a part of it.

Contact us to book a taster session or learn more!

 
 
 
 
 
 

Don’t Sweat It: The Truth About Your Workout

By Precious Oladipo
FFP Director & Physical Activity Lead

Ever finish a workout drenched in sweat and think, “Wow, I must’ve crushed it”? Well, maybe! However, sweating buckets doesn’t always mean you’re pushing harder.

Sweat is your body’s built-in cooling system. When your internal temperature rises, whether from a workout, hot weather, or pepper soup, your body produces sweat to cool you down. So while sweating can happen during intense exercise, it’s not the only indicator of effort.

Everyone sweats differently. Several factors influence the amount of sweat you produce, including genetics, gender, age, fitness level, and environmental conditions. Some people are simply born to sweat more. Men often sweat more than women, and younger people typically sweat more efficiently than older adults. Your fitness level matters too! Surprisingly, people who are in great shape may start sweating earlier and more because their bodies are quicker at kicking in the cooling process. Then there’s your surroundings: heat, humidity, and even what you’re wearing can dramatically increase sweat output.

Let’s say you're doing yoga in a chilly room. Your muscles might be working hard, but you won’t be dripping like you would during a steamy HIIT session. That doesn't mean you didn’t get a great workout does it? It just means sweat isn’t the full story.

So what does tell you you're working hard? Pay attention to your heart rate, breathing, how your muscles feel, and how fatigued you are afterwards. Those are more reliable markers of effort than how soggy your shirt is.

Bottom line: Sweat is just part of the picture. It might mean you’re working hard, or just that it’s hot out! Either way, don’t let your sweat level be the sole judge of your fitness victory. Keep moving, stay hydrated, and let your body do its thing!

 
 
 
 
 
 

Misir Wat
(Ethiopian Spicy Red Lentil stew)

This month we are headed to East Africa for Misir Wat (Ethiopian spicy red lentil stew)!

Ethiopian spicy red lentil stew is a delicious, wholesome dish made with berbere spices (a traditional blend of spices, the key ingredients are red chilli peppers, fenugreek, and ginger. Additional spices include coriander, cardamom, allspice, cumin, peppercorns, cloves, cinnamon, spiced butter and red lentils. Every mouthful of this dish will have you sighing in pure delight, and you won’t even miss the meat!

Let’s get cooking!

  • Serves: 4-6

  • Preparation time: 15 minutes

  • Cook time: 25-35 minutes

  • Total time: 40-50 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 red onions, minced

  • 2 yellow onions, minced

  • 4 garlic cloves, minced

  • 50ml rapeseed oil

  • 2 tablespoons berbere spices

  • 1 cup red lentils (soaked for 2 hours)

  • 3 tomatoes, crushed

  • Salt & ground black pepper to taste

  • 1 ½ cups of water

Method

  1. Cook garlic, yellow and red onions in a large pan over medium heat for 1-2 minutes.

  2. Add berbere spice, stir and leave to cook for about 2 minutes.

  3. Add oil and stir until the spices, onions, and garlic are well combined.

  4. Stir in tomatoes and cook for about 7 minutes.

  5. Add lentils, cook and stir for 5 minutes and then add water.

  6. Reduce the heat and simmer until the lentils are cooked through, about 10 minutes.

  7. Season stew with ground black pepper and salt in the last few minutes of cooking.

  8. Serve with Injera or rice

Recipe courtesy of:
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/245948/kik-wat-ethiopian-red-lentil-stew/

https://www.africanbites.com/ethiopian-lentil-stew/#recipe


Images courtesy of: 

https://thefoodieglobetrotter.com/ethiopian-african-lentils-misir-wat-quick-injera/

https://www.daringgourmet.com/misir-wat-ethiopian-spiced-red-lentils/

https://www.africanbites.com/ethiopian-lentil-stew/#recipe

 
 
 
 
 
 

Koseret

This month, we’re celebrating Koseret for the letter K!

Koseret is a lesser-known herb that is widely used in Ethiopia and Eritrea. It has a minty flavour with hints of sweet basil and oregano and is infused into Niter Kibbeh (Ethiopian spiced clarified butter), which is an integral part of Ethiopian cooking, giving it a longer shelf life and higher smoke point. Koseret is also used widely in stews and sauces. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo, it is eaten as a potherb. When used in tea, it is believed to have medicinal properties, including the prevention of fever, cough, and constipation, as well as settling the stomach. 

Nutritionally, Koseret:

  1. Is rich in antioxidants that neutralise harmful molecules and can help promote health. 

  2. Is traditionally used to settle the stomach and treat constipation. 

  3. May have benefits for skin conditions and burns, which it has traditionally been used for, and there is some evidence that it has antibacterial properties. 

Where to find Koseret in the UK?

Koseret is a rare herb in the UK and is not typically found in mainstream supermarkets. However, it can be found online as both a cooking herb and a tea, and is also available in some African food stores across the country.

Image courtesy of:
https://rareteacompany.com/products/ethiopian-koseret?srsltid=AfmBOorM39p8mQpdrR0oz_bl6B4SXOPh76x_URRAg2rlB6mqhz5E62DB

 
 
 
 
 
 

Welcome to Balanced Bites:

Your Guide to Nutrition Made Simple!

Ever wondered if coconut oil is truly the miracle ingredient everyone's raving about? Or stood in the fruit and veg aisle debating whether those pricey organic tomatoes are actually worth it? We've all been there! In a world drowning in conflicting diet advice, Instagram nutrition "gurus," and wellness trends that change faster than the weather, finding reliable, evidence-based nutrition information can feel like solving a puzzle with half the pieces missing.

That's exactly why we created Balanced Bites, your nutrition bestie who happens to know their stuff! Think of us as your friendly guide through the wild world of wellness, armed with actual science instead of just pretty smoothie photos.

What You'll Find Here

Each edition, we'll dive into the good stuff that actually matters to your real life. One edition might blow your mind with magnesium facts (seriously, this mineral is involved in over 300 biochemical reactions in the body - talk about an overachiever!). The next could tackle those spicy, controversial topics like whether seed oils are the villain they're made out to be, or shine a spotlight on kitchen heroes like garlic that deserve way more credit.

We'll spill the tea on smart shopping secrets that'll make you feel like a grocery store detective, decode the truth behind those trendy ingredients flooding your feed, and share cooking hacks that actually boost nutrition (not just make your food look Instagram-worthy). From the vitamins and minerals your body is secretly craving to the evidence-based real talk on controversial nutrition topics, we're here to cut through the noise and serve up facts you can actually trust.

Ready to become the most nutrition-savvy person in your friend group? Let's dig in together, one deliciously informed bite at a time! 🍎

 
 
 
 
 
 

Dietetics Students’ Placement

Last month, we had the pleasure of welcoming four Dietetics students from the University of Nottingham for a two-week placement with us. It was an enriching experience for both the students and our team. In this month’s edition, we’re excited to share a review from Amber and Pooja, two of our students, who reflect on their time spent here and the valuable insights they gained during their placement.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Understanding Prediabetes and Reducing Risks: Part 2

By Modupe Peters
FFP Director & Diabetes Lead

In the second and final part of this series, we will explore the various ways to lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. You can use the Diabetes UK ‘Know Your Risk’ online tool to determine your risk, particularly if all or some of the risk factors highlighted in the first part of this series apply to you (link to previous edition).

Preventing Type 2 Diabetes

Research has shown that a combination of lifestyle interventions, including a healthy diet, regular physical activity, and sustained weight loss, can be effective in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes by 50% for some individuals. Being at risk doesn’t mean you will definitely develop type 2 diabetes. Making healthy changes to the foods you eat and increasing your levels of physical activity can help reduce your risk

Managing Your Weight

Being overweight or obese is a risk for developing type 2 diabetes, and even small amounts of weight loss are beneficial. Losing 5% of your body weight can significantly reduce your risk. Speak to your GP for a referral to your local weight management services.

Eating a Healthy Balanced Diet

Eating a healthy, balanced diet consisting of fruits and vegetables, more plant-based proteins such as lentils/beans, low-fat, oily fish, and moderate amounts of whole grains and high-fibre carbohydrates has been linked with a reduced risk of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Be More Active

Being inactive is linked with an increased risk of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. So being active in your daily life can help reduce your risk. This doesn't mean you need to take up a new sport or join the gym. You can start with small changes, such as using the stairs instead of the lift, getting off the bus a stop early, and taking a walk during your lunch break.

Your healthcare team can support you in making changes to your overall lifestyle to help reduce your risk of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Eat Your Greens (or at Least Your Orange Hoops)

The latest figures from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) have landed, and guess what? Britain’s children are still largely treating fruit and vegetables like they’re optional extras, somewhere between broccoli and bedtime on the list of daily horrors.

According to the data, only 18–20% of younger children (aged 1.5 to 10) are hitting the recommended five-a-day. And teens? Just 9%. That’s right: fewer than one in ten 11–18-year-olds are eating enough fruit and veg. The rest are, presumably, powered by toast, air, and the occasional multivitamin gummy their parents give them.

We know, we know, it’s hard. Life is busy, kids are picky, food is expensive and sometimes the only “green” they want is the gummy bear that tastes vaguely of lime. But here’s the thing: it does matter. Fruit and veg aren’t just for adults trying to feel smug about their lunch, they’re essential for kids growing, learning, and yes, functioning.

And here’s a fun fact that proves it doesn’t have to be Instagram-worthy: half a can of spaghetti hoops in tomato sauce counts as one of your five-a-day. No, it’s not peak nutrition. But it’s better than nothing. And at this point, we’ll take what we can get.

So let’s stop pretending kids are going to fall in love with aubergine overnight. If it takes a few stealthy hoops to inch closer to five, bring on the tin opener. The goal is better, not perfect, and frankly, every spoonful counts.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

🎁 Prize Draw! 🎁

Thank you for being part of Food for Purpose!

We’re celebrating our loyal readers with a special prize draw - one lucky subscriber will win a Limited Edition Purposeful You mug! Click the button below to pop your name in the hat—one entry per reader.

The competition will close at 11.59pm on Friday 16th August 2025 and the lucky winner will be announced in our next edition. Good luck!

 
 
 
 
 

Let's keep in touch

For general enquiries about Food for Purpose:

admin@foodforpurpose.org 

 

For Newsletter enquiries / content suggestions:

sandra.thomas@foodforpurpose.org