A Portage Life in the Spotlight: Polina Lombardo

Polina Lombardo is very passionate about health and nutrition. As the program coordinator for the Portage Township YMCA, she is able to channel this passion to help other children.

“I am responsible for feeding kids after school, during the summer, and anytime school is out during the school year,” Lombardo said. “At the YMCA, we have a nutrition kitchen. I’m all about how to bring joy through truly nutritious food, not just because it tastes good but also because it is good for our bodies.”

During the school year, Lombardo works with children grades kindergarten through 12. During the summer, she works with children from around 6 months to 18 years old.

In the menus she creates at the YMCA, Lombardo tries to incorporate healthy food that the children likely would not have tried, like beets.

“Each meal contains a fruit, a vegetable, a starch, and a protein,” Lombardo said.

Lombardo was born in Russia. When she came to the United States about a decade ago, she didn’t know much about how food impacts one’s health. After she had her daughter, she began doing more research on the link between food and health. This was one of the core occurrences that sparked Lombardo’s passion for paying attention to your daily diet.

In order to align with a healthy diet herself, Lombardo doesn’t go out to eat a lot. Instead, she cooks four to five times a day for herself and her family. She’ll often incorporate ingredients like avocado oil, whole grains, and will limit sodium and heavy fats.

“My job is really important to me,” she said. “Like myself, I want our community to eat well.”

Lombardo will cook dishes from different countries for her family. These include Italian, Indian, Russian, and Middle Eastern dishes.

Lombardo is active in fitness. She likes to go for walks, especially on the beach, and take workout classes. Lombardo and her family also travel frequently both nationally and internationally. They often go to Chicago since it is close to Portage. When in Chicago, they will go to the ballet, the orchestra, or a museum.

In her work, with her family, and within the community, Lombardo emphasizes that food should be used for fuel.

“I think all of us need to be more mindful of what we’re eating, why we’re eating it, and just stay active,” Lombardo said. “I hope that people will not learn the hard way through a health crisis. Anyone is capable of changing their habits, and I try to help as many people as I can. It’s important to stay healthy for themselves and their families.”

Lombardo is bringing a lot of good to her community through her focus on food that truly nourishes and promotes a healthy body. By being active in her own life, caring for her family, working with the children at the YMCA, and communicating the importance of diet and exercise, she is making a direct impact on health in Portage.