Young @ Heart 65+ combines faith, fellowship and practical healthy-ageing lessons

Peckham Church was filled with warmth, laughter and practical learning on Saturday 24 October 2026 as the South East Region Welfare Team hosted the annual Young @ Heart gathering for those aged 65 and above. Under the theme “Healthy Plates, Happy Lives,” the programme brought faith and wellbeing together around the words of 1 Corinthians 10:31: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

The day blended choruses and prayer with lively icebreakers, a specially written poem, health presentations, testimonies, a question-and-answer session, corporate prayer and plenty of fellowship. Participants in the church and those joining online were encouraged not simply to add years to life, but to make thoughtful choices that can support strength, independence and joyful Christian service.

Small Choices, Lasting Habits

The keynote nutrition session, led by registered dietitian and academic Sister Janet Addis-Obi Moyeema, made healthy eating refreshingly practical. A balanced plate should give generous space to vegetables and fruit, include higher-fibre starchy foods and suitable protein, and keep foods high in salt, sugar and saturated fat to smaller amounts. Participants were encouraged to read labels, watch portion sizes, drink water regularly and remember that beans and lentils can provide useful alternatives to meat.

Her seven-day challenge made the message easy to take home: add a vegetable, swap a sugary drink for water, choose more fibre, try a plant protein, read a food label, eat a wider range of colours, and plan a healthy meal ahead. The message was clear — lasting habits are often built through small changes repeated consistently.

Healthy Ageing Is More Than the Plate

A later word of wisdom widened the conversation to sleep, hydration, bowel regularity and paying attention to the body’s signals. The event also highlighted movement, regular health checks and staying socially connected. The energetic icebreakers, shared memories, music and testimonies demonstrated that healthy ageing has a strong relational and spiritual dimension too.

A special poem captured the heart of the day by linking colourful foods, moderation, gratitude and self-control with Christian stewardship of the body. Testimonies of God’s faithfulness then turned the health discussion into worship, reminding everyone that our confidence is in God even as we make wise use of the knowledge and resources He provides.

“Eat well, move regularly, stay hydrated, enjoy your food, 
look after your body — one meal, one choice and one day at a time.”

By the close, “Healthy Plates, Happy Lives” had become more than a theme. It was a simple call to purposeful living: care for the life God has given, enjoy fellowship, keep learning, and make the next wise choice. For the Young @ Heart at Peckham, age may increase — but vitality, faith and usefulness can continue to shine.