A Conversation with Debra Peek Haynes
Founder of “Debra’s Healing Kitchen”
Talking about bringing healing to our families and communities
By Mary Shaw-Ridley
A Living Sacrifice to God
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. – Romans 12:1 (NLT)
Mary: Debra, you have at least two books that are part of your healing kitchen (The Beginners Guide to Healthy Living and A Simplified Guide to Healthy Living: Vegetarian and Vegan Recipes) and they are focused on recipes for eating healthy. How do you challenge an African-American mindset that often believes unhealthy food tastes better?
Debra: That is a loaded question. I always tell people, your tongue is toxic, the tongue is toxic because of the kind of food you actually eat. Once you start cleansing your systems, your taste buds will change. From a historical perspective, African Americans ate a certain type of food to survive; we were very creative. As we were able to overcome and move forward, we kept that same type of diet not knowing that diet will help you survive, but it will not help you to thrive.
Mary: Family is the cornerstone of the African-American survivorship experience. Talk more about the historical context for why we choose foods that may over time be making us sick.
Debra: The whole country (USA) has a problem with providing healthy nutritious food to people, however it is often worse in our communities. And on top of that, everyone has some type of emotional connection with food. In the African-American community it is much more. We have a stronger connection with food because it is a time of fellowship with the people we love, support and happen to be comfortable with. I believe our connection is much more emotional.
Then you put on top of that, when we wake up in this country as African Americans, we wake up to oppression, we do not see it, but it hits us in so many different ways. I believe that oppression is why we have obesity, high blood pressure and/or hypertension. Our lived experiences with oppression are coupled with the choices that we have and make.
Fortunately, in my presentations, events, and workshops, I have people come up to me and tell me that they have changed this and that because I convinced them that change was necessary. I have met people who get really sick or definitely ill, and then decide to change. I have others who will never get it. My duty is to provide the information in the most compelling way and pray that God will open the mind and hearts of the listeners. We, meaning African Americans do not get it that that we are in a very serious position.
Mary: Debra, do you really believe that African Americans do not understand the importance of making healthier food choices, good nutrition, and its relationship to illness or disease? Dr. Haynes, Senior Pastor of Friendship West Missionary Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas often talks about the importance of knowing our history because if we do not know history, we will tend to repeat it.
Debra: Well, I try to remind African Americans that our nutrition problem is systemic. It is part of a culture of greed. I know we have to be able to make money but when you use it to suppress people and lie to people that is when there is an issue for me. I think we need to understand the world we live in and how we are seduced, and not for what is best for our communities and families.
There is a subtle way in which I try to remind Christians that the enemy seeks to destroy…especially when we are not paying attention or simply not alert to Satan’s subtle schemes. You don’t know you are there until it becomes an issue. I try to remind people that there is a price on your head for other people to make money off you as they are killing you.
We all have our areas of weakness and I have mine. I have times that I may eat something I am not supposed to eat, or I may eat too much of it. All of us are capable of overindulging in food that may taste good. However, we must learn to stop and regroup. Many African Americans continue poor eating habits (food choices, portion control, overeating) and never stop. My doctor said this to me, “dialysis clinics pop up in every African-American and Hispanic community, everywhere because of kidney disease, diabetes, and other conditions.” When our family and friends go there, they give you a specific diet, but should we be on that type of diet to avoid going in for dialysis beforehand? Is preventative nutrition health a better option for us as a community? Good nutrition practices (healthier eating) will lessen the need for dialysis.
Mary: Debra, are you suggesting that despite the wealth of nutrition information that is available to people on the web, TV, social media, food/cooking shows, and nutrition workshops, there are still a huge number of Christians, particularly African American that lack sufficient knowledge to make better nutrition or healthier eating choices?
Debra: Yes, Yes!
Mary: Well, that leads me to ask you about Debra’s Healing Kitchen. Talk to me about the kitchen.
Debra: Yes, that is my app, Facebook page and company name.
Mary: What inspired you to create Debra’s Healing Kitchen?
Debra: Well, it all started after going through my infertility issue many years ago, seeing my holistic doctor, and ultimately seeing the results of what she told me to do… I did what she suggested. I was so excited about the outcome. Even though it was all about being able to conceive, I just became very passionate about sharing my information. Then I started doing cooking workshops and on top of that, when a family came to my house, they would always tell me that they felt better after coming to my house and being in my kitchen. Families and friends told me they felt rejuvenated, which is a spiritual thing. I decided to call it Debra’s Healing Kitchen because it is about bringing healing wherever I am.
The kitchen is the medicine cabinet of your home and that is why I decided to name it as such. From Debra’s Healing Kitchen, I started my not-for-profit business which is the DHK Wellness Strategies. Now I have a pilot project in a high school, teaching mostly African Americans and a few Hispanics about their food, what they are putting into their body, and how it affects their emotions. It all came out of my lived experience and God putting me on the right path… and I have to pay it forward. That’s kind of how this all evolved. It is really important that we bring healing to our families and our communities.
Mary: So, what is the relationship between DHK Wellness Strategies, your not-for-profit organization and Debra’s Healing Kitchen?
Debra: Debra’s Healing Kitchen is my umbrella company where I have my events and books. I am also creating anti-inflammatory seasoning blends under my umbrella company, Debra’s Healing Kitchen.
Mary: Who conducts the pilot study nutrition and cooking classes in the high school that you mentioned?
Debra: I was asked to do this at a high school that had a culinary program. I was able to meet with the Principal and the teachers also liked what I had to say, and they were ok with it. I am not being paid by the school. I raise money on my own. I meet with the students during their culinary class period and we talk about nutrition. We do healthy cooking demonstrations, watch movies, and I bring in other professionals like dentists and personal trainers who can talk to them about various aspects of health.
Mary: I assume you want to take the pilot culinary class to the national level…making it available to high school students across the country.
Debra: Oh yes, I am working on that now. I have a colleague who is helping me write a proposal to obtain funding. Yes, I absolutely want this school-based nutrition project to become a national model for informing, motivating, and inspiring the next generation of young people to make better nutrition choices than many of us older adults made.
Mary: Health communication research suggests that repeat messaging becomes instructional. How can we repeat health messages so that they become instructional? There are more venues to promote unhealthy food messages than healthy food messages. Often the unhealthy TV and social media messages seem to be more appealing…maybe even powerful to both Christian and non-Christian communities. Let’s look at the church community…. how do you make sure that healthier eating messages are repetitional and instructional?
Debra: First of all, let’s say it’s an uphill battle. They (church family) see me as a food police. They already know what needs to be done, but they refuse to make changes. However, I keep repeating the messages over and over at all my events (church and community); I then get people who buy in to help spread the messages. It really is all about creating a network. To me that’s the best way to do it.
I am always blown away when church people make unhealthy nutrition choices in front of other people. I had one of my church members order a coke in front of me at this fancy restaurant where we went for lunch. I was so blown away. Everyone asked her why do you have to do it in front of Mrs. Haynes and she said, “I have not done it in a while.” I was so livid.
The other thing is that we do not understand that these foods and drinks are drugs. For example, white processed sugar is a drug. I try to inform my church family and other communities that the reason they are feeling and acting a certain way (emotional and physical wellness) is because what they are eating is actually a drug and not food.
Mary: Behavior change is a very difficult process. Whether an individual wants to stop smoking, eat healthier, or engage in more physical activity (exercise), typically one needs encouragement and support systems. Part of behavior change entails sufficient knowledge and then attitude. Which is more of a challenge to address in the church community…Nutrition Knowledge or Nutrition Attitude and Beliefs?
Debra: The attitude is definitely a big issue, but you will be surprised by the lack of basic knowledge. After years of doing nutrition education/cooking workshops and events, I still get to talk to people about what is good and what is not. They will say things to me like, I ate this and that, and when I tell them no that is horrible, they say, “I thought it is ok.” I find that we do not have much knowledge, we do not look up information on our own, then we have a problem changing our attitude.
Mary: With that being said, I am particularly interested in your recent book that deals with vegetarian and vegan recipes. Talk to me about this book that seeks to provide knowledge necessary to shift attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors about food and good nutrition.
Debra: The Simplified Guide to Healthier Cooking
Mary: Yes, tell us about the book.
Debra: Well the newest book is really an expansion of my first book, the Beginner’s Guide to Healthy Living. As you can see, it is endorsed by my holistic doctor. I am grateful that she did that. You can read it at the back of my book. This latest book, the Simplified Guide to Healthy Living expands on some things from my first book. I believe the best way of describing the book is “information expanded”. I had to include water because with the Flint water crisis and so much that is happening in this country, everyone needs to understand how important water is to our health. Our bodies need more water to stay healthy and it needs to be clean water.
Mary: Absolutely. “Drink more water” is always a difficult message for consumers to receive, process, and act on it. So how do you respond to faith-based questions such as, “Are you asking us to no longer offer the sugary beverages (lemonade, sweet tea, and sodas) at church fellowship events?”
Debra: I always show people the alternative to white sugar. You know everyone wants something sweet to eat. So, to make it sweet I use raw sugar, stevia, pure maple syrup, or raw honey sometimes. I show people that this is an alternative or option and that there are some additional benefits linked to alternative sweeteners. Also, I talk about the fact that sugar craving might be related to some type of mineral-vitamin deficiency. I remind people to make sure they get a lot of vitamins and mineral nutrients. I believe chromium is the main one that relates to sugar craving. Certain nutrients are also associated with emotions as well.
Most people are not even reading the labels on food and beverages. Regarding labels on
food, I am showing people that food and beverage labels give us important information. For example, one of the student’s had a large bottle of a popular brand soda and I told them to read the sugar content on the soda versus that of another non-carbonated soda that was available. The student said to me, “oh my gosh, I didn’t know that this soda had so much sugar”. And I said, “You are just drinking stuff and you don’t even know what you are putting in your body.”
Mary: Debra, your Simplified Guide to Healthy Living subtitle is Vegetarian and Vegan Recipes. Explain the difference between a vegetarian versus a vegan diet.
Debra: Well the term vegan basically means that the person eats no animal products but being vegan doesn’t necessarily mean you are healthier.
Mary: A Simplified Guide to Healthier Living: Vegetarian and Vegan Recipes, 2018 has 27 chapters and you state that it is easy to read. Given that many people may not like to read for information (our texting and social media generation) what might make the book appealing to this audience?
Debra: Well you can see the chapters are very brief. These are not long chapters; they are like 2-3 pages basically per chapter. I have had people come to me after losing 100 pounds or, 20 pounds and say, “oh I have been using your recipes”. Most of the recipes take about 30 minutes, just a few are 45 minutes. Nothing is really long in there. I am not a chef, I am not a trained chef, but I try to meet people where they are, where everybody can read and make use of the book. I wrote the book so anybody can use it.
Mary: From your perspective, who should be encouraged to purchase, A Simplified Guide to Healthier Living: Vegetarian and Vegan Recipes? Who should become a friend, supporter, or a health ministry messenger for Debra’s Healing Kitchen?
Debra: Anyone that wants to begin and sustain a healthy lifestyle. I tried to make it where it is easy to follow. You are not inundated with a lot information because a lot of people hate it when they are inundated with a lot of information. I try to make healthy nutrition choices as plain as possible to where anyone can do it… whether you are highly educated, rich, or less formally educated, but you have common sense. If you are looking for something healthy to make for your family, something that tastes good, and it’s not really expensive—and won’t take a lot of time, then A Simplified Guide to Healthy Living is a good resource for the family healing kitchen.
Mary: As we celebrate Mothers and Fathers during the months of May and June, what is your message to mothers who are usually the ones that make the decisions about what will happen in the kitchen?
Debra: Don’t succumb to what you see advertised on the television, you have to think for yourself, what’s best for your family. Make sure that whatever you do, that your family is eating a variety of fresh vegetables and fruits, more vegetables than fruits. Try to have more color to your food. If you can buy organic, buy organic, and make sure your family eats salad at least a few times a week.
And then note that your food needs to taste good. That is why through Debra’s Healing Kitchen, I give you some ideas on what to do to make your food taste good. My favorite breakfast on the run…and anyone can do this unless you have a nut allergy is Fuji apple sliced—because they are crispy and naturally sweet, with freshly ground almond butter. You can even ground your own almond butter or purchase in most grocery stores.
Mary: In the Simplified Guide, you have some recipes that are easy to cook. And when we get down to cooking family dinner a lot of mothers will say “I come in from work and I am tired and all that dicing and slicing…. I just can’t do it…all that preparation.
Debra: A couple of things, one if you have some children that have come of age and can help cut or chop some things, let them do it. Your husband can help as well. You might have a friend that you share some recipes with, so you can alternate some of the meal preparation. Another thing is that you have some food sites and businesses that sell prepared healthy foods that can save you some time. So, you don’t have to prepare and cook everything for the meal. You can make a big bowl of salad and you may want to put fish on top, a sweet potato, or keep it simple. Remember, you do not have to do all the preparation for a healthy meal by yourself.
Mary: So how did you get your family to get on board with the healthier food in Debra’s Healing Kitchen? Especially since we often hear mothers say, “I cook healthy, but my family won’t eat it, they want me to fix something else.”
Debra: Well my husband agreed to support me when I started addressing my personal health issues. My husband agreed and my holistic doctor gave me a list of things to do and recipes. Some things I knew to do on my own. I cooked my greens in a healthier way with no meat. My husband agreed to eat what I ate. Well, my daughter was born when I was vegan, and she grew up seeing what I cooked and eating what was served. She was born into a family household that made healthy food choices a lifestyle. The other thing I tell women is “look, if you have a husband you are cooking for, do not explain to him, oh I am making this healthier, I am doing this and that. Just prepare the food, put it in front of him and let him taste it. Once he says I like it, then you can tell what it is, but don’t start explaining stuff before he tastes it.
Mary: Probably all of our readers like Debra’s Healing Kitchen tip of the day… “Don’t tell them that you are going to make a change” ……just do it.
Debra: Yes, because their brains will shut off and they will start saying, “well I don’t like the taste of this.” HINT: Just don’t say what it is, just serve the food.
Mary: Well, the last question is about Debra. Tell the audience about your background, just a little bit about Mrs. Debra Haynes who founded Debra’s Healing Kitchen.
Debra: Well, thank you. I appreciate that. I was born and raised in New Jersey, so I consider myself an East Coast person. I was raised off of the ocean which I miss (oh my gosh), I miss it so much ……. I miss it so much. However, I was 16 when my father passed, he was a Pastor in New Jersey. We moved to Detroit to be closer to my sister and brother who were married with their family, so my mother and I moved to Detroit. I graduated high school and went to Eastern Michigan University. I majored in Fine Art with a Marketing minor. I have been in sales for many years. I was a commercial real estate broker for many years, as well. When the real estate market dropped years ago, that was when I asked God what He wanted me to do? I knew that I needed a change from what I was doing because real estate was not working. God led me to shape my passion, healthy cooking into a business. And really, it’s not about passion, it’s about purpose. He revealed to me my purpose which is about how we need to take care of our temple.
Debra: I am still a commercial real estate broker, so I still have some select projects and contracts that I work on, but the majority of my time is spent sharing information, with our people, with anyone that is interested in becoming healthier. “But I am really focused on helping our people because that is where the need is.”
Mary: Do you have any final thoughts to share with our HimPower family?
Debra: The last two things I will say are: (a) that you must be an educated voter because the policies that elected officials make have everything to do with your health.
(b) Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself. – 1 Corinthians 6:19
For more information about Debra’s Healing Kitchen visit her at
https://www.debrapeekhaynes.com/
