Steelers players help cook up healthy meals for cancer patients

Steelers defensive sort out Montravius Adams had a slight look of trepidation as he ready to take his first chew of a quinoa burger slider he had simply helped put together. He made up his thoughts to dive in and take a look at it. Out of the blue a smile crept over his face.

“Mmmm, I prefer it, I prefer it,” Adams stated. “I don’t assume it tastes like my regular cow (burger), nevertheless it’s good. I prefer it. I can do it.”

Quinoa is a flowering plant grown as a crop for its edible seeds that are wealthy in protein, dietary fiber, and B nutritional vitamins. It’s thought of a low-carb rice substitute.

Adams and Steelers middle J.C. Hassenauer have been showing as a part of a UPMC Hillman Most cancers Heart and UPMC Magee Womens Hospital wholesome cooking demonstration for breast most cancers sufferers and survivors. It was held Tuesday afternoon at former Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch’s Better of the Batch Basis in Homestead.

Additionally they helped put together dishes similar to a cinnamon quinoa breakfast bowl and kale pineapple breakfast smoothie, in addition to a honey crisp kale salad.

The UPMC Breast Most cancers Program emphasizes the advantages of fine vitamin and train for general well being throughout and after most cancers remedy. And Adams and Hassenauer have been completely satisfied to assist on their scheduled day without work. They assisted Jon Polley, govt chef, meals and Vitamin Providers at UPMC Magee and Angela Zaccagnini, a dietician at UPMC Hillman Most cancers Heart. Steelers govt chef Kevin Blinn was additionally readily available.

“It’s been good to be right here with breast most cancers survivors,” Adams stated. “Everybody stated the meals was nice. I used to be at all times a reasonably large kale and spinach fan, so it was cool and I lately bought into quinoa. Sadly, I’ve by no means actually been within the kitchen however at the moment it was enjoyable. It was a really satisfying day.”

Not like Adams, Hassenauer likes to prepare dinner and stated he does the entire meal preparation at dwelling. He stated he realized lots in the course of the demonstration about more healthy consuming habits.

“We emphasised a variety of the usage of kale and quinoa. So, perhaps I can make the most of these in a few of my new dishes,” Hassenauer stated.

There have been even some bragging rights on the road throughout a cleansing the kale competitors involving separating the leaf from the stem between Adams and Hassenauer. J.C. ended up conceding.

“They’re doing nice. I feel they’re studying lots about plant-based protein sources in addition to good vitamin and darkish leafy greens and extra of a plant-based weight-reduction plan,” Zaccagnini stated, including that skilled athletes can profit from more healthy consuming habits the identical manner most cancers sufferers can.

“I feel weight-reduction plan for most cancers sufferers and athletes can go hand in hand as a result of good vitamin can work each for coping with illness and an infection and good efficiency on the sector and some other skilled video games or simply athletics on the whole,” Zaccagnini stated.

Shawnishi Irvin, a 37-year-old breast most cancers survivor from the Hill District, was wearing a gold Steelers jersey. She was excited in regards to the presence of a few Steelers gamers, however that wasn’t the one motive for her attendance.

“What introduced me right here at the moment as a breast most cancers survivor myself, was to have the ability to get some higher vitamin and to have the ability to assist others join with different breast most cancers survivors as nicely,” Irvin stated.

Irvin was there together with her associate Mark Harris, who sported a black Steelers jersey with working again Najee Harris’ quantity 22.

“Perhaps we’ll attempt (the recipes) at dwelling and see how they work,” he stated. “Perhaps the recipes can be one thing particular for her. Hopefully she’ll be okay after which I’ll be okay.”

Lisa Szczepankowski, 51, Munhall, has metastatic breast most cancers and was additionally hoping to come back away with some wholesome recipes.

“I hoped to get some issues that we are able to attempt that we don’t historically use to prepare dinner or historically eat,” Szczepankowski stated. “Quinoa is unquestionably one thing we don’t prepare dinner with and don’t use. They’re saying you are able to do a variety of issues with it and it’s wholesome for you.”

Hassenauer stated he was completely satisfied to have the ability to do what he might to assist folks like Szczepankowski.

“It’s a blessing to have the ability to be right here and provides again to them. They undergo lots. I’m glad I’m capable of assist them and provides them assist,” he stated. “That’s all that issues.”

For his half, Adams stated being concerned within the wholesome cooking demonstration helped take his thoughts off of the Steelers struggles this season.

“I feel it’s at all times good for a participant and individual to step outdoors the field typically and, for me personally, an occasion like that is undoubtedly a very good place to be.”

Two extra cooking with the Steelers occasions are scheduled for Oct. 18 at Acrisure Stadium from 2-3 p.m. and Oct. 25 on the Larger Pittsburgh YWCA on Frankstown Avenue in Pittsburgh from 4- 5:30 p.m.

The Steelers are becoming a member of the NFL’s promotion of A Essential Catch marketing campaign, an effort to lift consciousness about breast most cancers screenings.