Why these produce leaders prioritized their health

GRAPEVINE, Texas — Changing your diet and lifestyle can be a life-altering experience — not just physically, but mentally, emotionally and socially.

As the third Clean Eating Challenge culminated at a panel discussion at the 2022 Viva Fresh Expo hosted by Texas International Produce Association, challenge participants shared their ongoing struggles and hurdles overcome.

A few panelists choked up as they shared what motivated them to take on this challenge, which required them to set goals, get physical exams and document with blog and video posts their progress or issues for the six months prior to the trade show.

Motivations included making sure they live longer for their children or grandchildren and reducing the symptoms of chronic illness.

“It’s about finding your why. It’s about setting healthy goals,” said Melinda Goodman, managing partner of Full Tilt Marketing and chairperson of the Viva Fresh Education Committee. “This is a hard conversation. It’s not just about weight loss or eating more fresh fruits and vegetables. It’s so much more. It’s about mental health. Start having these conversations.”

Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, registered dietitian nutritionist and president and CEO of Produce for Better Health Foundation, moderated the panel chat.

“Yes, it’s about healthier lives — but happier lives,” she said.

The Clean Eating Challenge isn’t about numbers necessarily, but they do mark progress pretty well. In the first three years of this challenge, dozens of participants have lost 1,000s of pounds.

Among the 11 challenge participants in 2022:

• 2.23 million steps were taken;
• 360-plus pounds were lost;
• More fruits and vegetables were consumed;
• Healthy ranges for cholesterol were achieved;
• Blood pressure dropped more than 20 points for several participants; and
• Sleep improved.

Ashley Porter, produce buyer from H-E-B, said she thought she was joining the challenge to support fellow participant Ed Bertaud, but then it became about reducing the symptoms of lupus, an autoimmune disease she was diagnosed with in 2018.

“It was on the verge of attacking my kidneys and also my heart. I was on the verge of getting on chemo medicine, and thought I’d test this food-as-medicine theory. I did get to reduce my medications, didn’t have to go on that chemo medicine and my skin cleared up,” she said. “It can work. I had to do a lot of visits with nutritionists and also do things with specialists.”

Tommy Wilkins, director of sales at Grow Farms Texas, said he wasn’t feeling that well when the Viva Fresh board was discussing the challenge idea a few years ago, and he wanted to feel healthy for his grandchildren.

The challenge has been difficult, but he has been able to get off some medications, he said.

“It’s really a marathon, not a sprint. Your body is going to react in different ways,” Wilkins said.

Jay Alley, co-owner and vice president of sales at Fresh Innovations, Rhome, Texas, said he was motivated to participate and is still deeply moved by a letter from one of his sons. It was about how well Alley takes care of his family, but it was time to take care of himself.

“They want to see me around. I’d seen Tommy and John Toner’s success and figured if they could do it, I could do it,” Alley said. “It’s not as easy as you think. You really have to be committed.”

The change has been good, though.

Produce professionals especially know they should eat more fruits and vegetables, “but there’s something that keeps us from doing it, behavioral science says,” Kapsak said. “Life happens.”

However, nutrition science has made a connection between our gut or belly health and our brains and hearts.

Several participants shared how much their mental health, including depression and anxiety, improved after their diets and lifestyles became healthier.

“There’s an emotional connection to eating better, eating healthy,” Kapsak said.

Her foundation has created initiatives surrounding the "know-feel-do" phases of behavior change.

And to form a new habit, you have to go through several stages, she said: Action, reward, repeat, habit.

In this fast-paced industry, it’s tough. But the losses from the COVID-19 pandemic and watching colleagues die from heart disease, have instilled in many participants how maintaining your own health is critical.

Read more: Healthy living, healthy crowds mark 2022 Viva Fresh Expo.

Prioritizing your health is also a powerful way to lead by example in your company and in the produce industry.

“You have to make sure you take time for yourself, whether it’s 30 minutes of exercise or taking time for a good lunch when you travel for work,” Alley said.

Wilkins starts his day with oatmeal now. He has shifted from regular ice cream to ice cream substitutes — even frozen grapes. He’s replaced white pasta with whole wheat pasta, and ground beef with ground turkey.

“Your habits and mind play with you, but you figure out healthier alternatives,” Wilkins said. “Emotion comes into the game a little bit, when you see something you do might help someone else. That’s huge.”