Embrace Your Healthy
Live Your Best Life With Resources Tailored for African American Communities in New York
We are Stronger Together. Let’s:
Transform how we think about our bodies and nourish our lives.
End the cycle of generational obesity, diabetes, chronic disease, and premature death.
Improve our mealtimes and lifestyles to support our best health.
Nourish our potential by making health and wellness a priority.
HI, I AM
Elizabeth Madison
Integrative & Functional Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
Healthy Living & You Founder and Executive Director
“I refuse to stand by when I see African Americans’ potential being compromised due to health issues. JOIN my free programs and nourish your healthier future.”
My passion is providing comprehensive, culturally tailored nutrition and wellness programs that meet the unique needs of the African-American community and empowering them to achieve and maintain healthy lifestyles.
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Our communities have struggled for decades with obesity, diabetes, and other chronic diseases. These issues have decreased the quality of our lives and reduced our longevity.
By providing quality services that integrate the body, mind, and spirit and offering wraparound support, we can take control of our health and stop the devastating legacy of poor health.
I know how difficult it is to break these disease cycles.
I struggled for over twenty years with obesity, hypertension, and other ailments. Only through a faith-based approach and comprehensive support have I been able to maintain a weight loss of over 115 pounds for over 22 years.
I’m transformed, and I believe that you, your family, and our community can be transformed, too.
The health and wellness challenges we face as a community reflect social, political, cultural, and racial issues.
Together, we can restore the power of healthy living to our community — one member at a time!
HEALTHY LIVING & YOU, INC. COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
Healthy Families, Healthy Communities
Empowering Families and Seniors in Southeast Queens and Far Rockaway to Live Healthier Lives
Healthy Families, Healthy Communities (HFHC) is a dynamic, community-driven initiative that combines nutrition education, fitness classes, cooking programs, and wellness resources to help Southeast Queens seniors and Far Rockaway families prevent and manage chronic conditions like diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure.
Through a Food as Medicine model-based, culturally responsive approach, HFHC provides the tools families and seniors need to make lasting, healthy lifestyle changes.
By integrating fitness classes, nutrition education workshops, supermarket tours, cooking demonstrations, cooking classes, and a free community nutrition and wellness magazine, we supply the tools necessary to help individuals prevent and manage chronic diseases.
FOR SENIORS
Wise Walking Warriors
in Southeast Queens
Launched in 2021, this 10-week program, offered in the Spring and Fall, promotes healthy aging through twice-weekly fitness classes in Springfield Park. Seniors also attend weekly nutrition education events such as cooking demonstrations, cooking classes, and supermarket tours focused on disease prevention, thoughtful and affordable food choices, and healthy habits.
FOR FAMILIES
Healthy Steps, Healthy Plates
in Far Rockaway
This family-focused program offers interactive cooking classes, fitness sessions, and supermarket tours to tackle high rates of chronic illness, such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension, in Far Rockaway. Participants learn how to shop on a budget, prepare quick and nutritious meals, and adopt practical strategies for long-term wellness.
FOR YOUTH
STEM in the Kitchen
in Communities of Color
Offered in schools and community centers, this 4–12-week program teaches youth the science of food through hands-on cooking, STEM learning, and culturally affirming nutrition education. Students gain confidence, life skills, and pride while building healthier habits.
Mary L.
I can’t believe that breadcrumbs have so much sodium! I’ll be reading the nutrition labels more closely. I am going to try the Kale Lentil Breakfast Bowl this week. It looks tasty and filling.
Consuelo S.
I absolutely loved attending the cooking class with Elizabeth and Chef Cherylle Lewis. Elizabeth’s enthusiasm for healthy eating and her knowledge of which foods provide which nutrients made for an informative and fun presentation. I learned food preparation tips from Chef Cherylle, and the dish she cooked was delicious. Moreover, I saw that I could prepare a simple, healthy, delicious, and colorful dish quickly.
Sheila V.
The class was totally engaging and informative (and tasty as well)! Both Elizabeth and Cherylle (the chef) offered nutritious alternatives to our traditional African American cuisine, which is usually laden with fat and salt.
Subscribe Now — FREE!
Every year, you will receive 12 electronic issues packed with over 35 pages of tips, insights, and inspiration explicitly created for Communities of Color.
PLUS,
With every subscription, you get preferential access to member nutrition, health, and wellness events.