POWHATAN, Va. (WRIC) -- As March, National Nutrition Month, comes to an end, the Free Clinic of Powhatan (FCP) is promoting whole-body health and healthy habits all year-round.   Founded in 2008, the clinic serves uninsured and underinsured adults in Powhatan, Chesterfield, Amelia and Cumberland Counties. Its services include dental, medical, mental health, pharmaceutical and lab, case management, women's health, vision and hearing care, and their new “Eat Well, Be Well” program so that patients get whole-body care.   The Eat Well, Be Well program provides nutritional education and wellness coaching to address both immediate healthcare needs and long-term wellness. If someone’s getting dental or medical care at the clinic, its food pantry is stocked with healthier food options to help with recovery time and practicing healthy habits.    “When a tooth is extracted, particularly if there’s several extracted at a time, it takes 6-8 weeks for that bone to heal well before they can even start the process for dentures," said dental case manager and nutrition advocate Theresa Quinn. "So, people aren’t eating well during that period. So, I try to make sure that they have more nutrient-dense foods that they can eat that are soft.”   Quinn said she doesn't tell patients to ditch their favorite sweet treats, but teaches that everything is good in moderation.   “I’m not going to tell you can't ever eat your favorite food," she said. "I want to give people the tools so they can make better choices. When people have access to better foods and good, basic information, they really do make better choices.”   The clinic's registered dietitian nutritionist Pam Campbell said she brings food labels with her to show patients the differences in foods and give them tips on how to effectively grocery shop.  “Shop the perimeter of the grocery store where the fresh foods are, and most of the ultra-processed food are kind of in the middle aisles in boxes and on shelves," Campbell said. "And so, try to spend your budget and your time on the outside getting those fresh foods first and so you can fill your cart with those things.”   According to FCP, in 2024 alone, it served nearly 500 patients through almost 3,000 visits, more than doubling its service capacity since relocating to a renovated space in 2021. Located at 2320 Skaggs Rd. in Powhatan, FCP’s impact is made possible through partnerships with healthcare providers, local governments, and dedicated volunteers, including over $300,000 in donated clinical and administrative resources. ...read more read less