Since 2010 federal requirements around menu labeling have been in process, but after the new regulations all restaurants, convenience stores, supermarkets, movie theaters and similar food establishments will now be required to list nutritional information like calories, fat, sugar, and sodium for parents and families. However, implementing this change has been a slow process, and the date for all food establishments to be updated has been pushed back. Many establishments like Starbucks, Panera and others have already implemented the changes, but Momsrising wants to encourage parents to take action and encourage the FDA to finalize the guidelines and implement these changes. According to Momsrising parents need to know this information as many families are eating out more than ...
For National Public Health week, the American Public Health Association is announcing the "Healthiest Cities and Counties Challenge". Partnering with the Aetna Foundation, and the National Association of Counties, in partnership with CEOs for Cities, the challenge encourages small to mid-sized cities to have multi-sector partnerships in support of positive health change for their cities. Participants who demonstrate measurable change within cross sector partnerships in the next few years and address issues like tobacco use, walkability, housing affordability, living wages and community safety, are able to be a recipient of up to $1.5 million in prizes. To learn more about entering the challenge by May 31st, 2016, click here. Copy & Share on Twitter: Join the ...
A new campaign from the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles is working to help the communities of Santa Monica, CA (14.1 % Latino) increase consumption of water and learn why it's important to drink water instead of sugary beverages. The campaign, called "Water: The Healthiest Choice" is hoping to help parents' increase their knowledge of the health benefits of drinking water instead of sugary beverages, especially for their children's health. Research has shown that sugary beverages, when consumed daily, increase the risk of diet-related disease in kids and adults. Latino kids often consume many sugary beverages, and with each sugary drink consumed the risk of becoming an obese adult jumps to sixty percent. The campaign suggests some ways to help parents to help kids drink more ...
Drinking water is a vital component to staying healthy, and now a new study from JAMA Pediatrics shows how students in New York who had more restrictive beverage option at school and access to clean and cold water, also came to have healthier weights. But recent news stories have shown that not all schools water is safe. Schools need to make sure water is safe through lead tests and having safe water accessible for all students, and visitors, especially since water may help students weight, finds the new study. The study looked at more than 1 million students across New York schools after a new rule banned sodas and high sugar and calorie drinks, but replaced vending machines with new water jets. The students were given cups to use in conjunction with the water jets, and ...
Having a healthy lunch is vital to students who consume most of the day's calories at school. Schools in Oyster River Cooperative School District are learning how to work with flavor, spices, culture and more to help increase student's consumption of healthier school lunches in their schools. Themes like "taco Tuesday" are popular among students, offering them a variety of different dressed up fruits and vegetables along with a lean meat for protein in the crunchy taco offered. The district also just won the New Hampshire School Breakfast Challenge with a 69 percent increase in student's participation for consuming high school lunches. The school's director of school nutrition, Doris Demers, has been working with creative and dedicated managers and school board members that have ...
What's not getting taxed, or may be taxed less in Britain? Britain has a new and different way of taxing sugary sweetened beverages using a three tier level of tax, looking more at the sugar content of a beverage and wanting to help people to switch at least to less sugary options for health reasons. Not all drinks will be taxed the same, but will be taxed per ounce as in Berkley, Cali. Drinks with more sugar, like soda will be taxed at higher prices, whereas slightly sweetened teas will be taxed less and no taxes will be put on flavored waters, according to a recent article. The new taxes are set to start in 2018, giving companies and vendors time to reform products and think about sugar content. Hungary also has a tier system, working within two levels of taxing, and ...
More and more cities, states and some countries, most recently the UK, are pushing towards a soda tax to help decrease obesity, and help fund health and wellness programs. The first city to have a successful attempt at a soda tax in the nation has been Berkley, CA, but now they hope to continue to raise awareness and show support to other cities working on a soda tax movement like Minneapolis, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle. In a recent article, Ecology Center Executive Director Martin Bourque stated, "Diabetes and other diet-related illnesses are destroying our kids' health, and sugary drinks are driving this trend. With this film, we want to show that communities can fight back and win, even against a corporate Goliath." The Film "Berkeley vs. Big Soda" is widely ...
Having fresh foods is vital for many schools across the country, especially for Latino kids who are more likely to be at risk for diet-related diseases like diabetes. Three school districts, Binghamton, Cortland, and Marathon are receiving a federal grant of $100,000 dollars to help students get more local fresh foods on their plates. Since 2012, the districts have been working to connect local schools with local farmers and build relationships to keep local produce in local schools. Working to continue the efforts and expand farm-to-school programs, the funds will help BOCES staff reach out to farmers and get more schools on board with buying local produce. Funds had been awarded in the past to BOCES and helped them train school staff in various activities like buying ...
Studies have shown that mascots, cartoons, and familiar faces often influence children's choices on food and unfortunately usually unhealthy foods. Marketing companies have targeted kids in various ways over the years, bringing in familiar cartoon characters or brand mascots into the commercials of high fat and high sugar food products, influencing food choices. Many companies have moved away from unhealthy food marketing to children and have joined the Children's Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative (CFBAI), which commits companies to only market healthy products to children younger than 12. However, recent research from Healthy Eating Research shows that there are still opportunities for food and beverage companies to ensure healthier foods and beverages are the only ...
