School lunches and snacks are becoming more nutritious thanks to improved federal nutrition regulations—but this is only part of the school food solution. Nutrition education for kids is a critical component. One seasoned children’s TV producer, who witnessed the childhood obesity epidemic as she raised her own kids, had an idea to use new technology to engage kids in learning about healthy living. Because of her, thousands of kids in Massachusetts, New York, and Florida have begun learning through KickinNutrition.TV, a digital platform for teachers to use to instruct students on healthy eating habits and exercise through videos, online gaming, and a social-media-like engagement designed for elementary- and middle-schoolers. EMERGENCE Awareness/Learn: Natasha Lance Rogoff worked ...
A new program in north Fort Collins is working to address health disparities by providing Latinos with more opportunities for bike safety education. The Vida Sana program---an initiative the Coalition for Activity and Nutrition to Defeat Obesity (CanDo) which and funded by the state and led by The University of Colorado Health---looks for ways to remove barriers to leading a healthy lifestyle for Latinos. According to a news article in the Coloradoan, without proper knowledge of biking in Fort Collins, individuals may feel stressed when traveling by bike. In order to overcome this barrier, Vida Sana is offering culturally appropriate bicycle education which will empower individuals to use their bikes regardless of age, ability or background. To make this opportunity ...
Dr. Amelie Ramirez created the Salud America! program and social media campaign to raise awareness of Latino health equity and drive solutions. But just who is Ramirez? Check out this new profile of Ramirez that describes how she emerged from humble beginnings in Laredo, Texas, developed a desire to help her population get healthier, and has spent 30 years dedicating her life to using research, interventions, innovative educational communications, and community outreach to promote healthful behaviors among Latinos. "My passion is based on the knowledge that our Hispanic population has not received enough information on how to reduce and prevent health problems," Ramirez said. "They develop more of the chronic diseases. And, as time passes, their rates of getting these diseases ...
From brain breaks to school wellness policies, schools all over are finding new ways to incorporate physical activity into the classroom. Salud hero and principal at DJ Red Simon Middle School Matt Pope is one example of a school leader who made it a point to make health a priority for his students. Chicago Public Schools (CPS) also made great strides with implementing an improved wellness policy which allows students the opportunity to engage in more physical activity. While schools like these are certainly setting the bar higher for others, many students still lack adequate PE and physical activity policies. To bring attention to the need for improved wellness policies, Community Commons has developed mapping tools as well as community health reports. Read more about ...
Latinos make up around 32% of the population in Lubbock, TX. Many folks who live here don't have neighborhood grocery stores that sell healthy food options, pushing families to buy food from limited and pricey convenience stores or the drive-thru window. One woman in east Lubbock hopes her idea will improve the health of her neighbors and save them some money. Kassey Sexton has acquired funding for a small building and plans to convert it into a small store that would provide lower-cost, healthier food options for her and her neighbors. Sexton hopes to have her store open by spring and plans on stocking it with produce grown from community gardens. Read more ...
These fact sheets and data tables from The Kids' Safe and Healthful Foods Project compare the snack food and beverage policies of each state and the District of Columbia with the USDA’s standards. These resources can help state and district stakeholders understand how close their policies are to the national standards and which state policies set an even healthier bar for snacks. They also provided recommendations for how states can better mirror the USDA ...
SaludToday Guest Blogger: Annette Raveneau
National Latino Press Secretary, Enroll America Obamacare’s open enrollment ends Feb. 15. But what does that mean exactly? I did not know what any lingo related to the health insurance industry meant even when I had health insurance through my previous jobs. Well, open enrollment is the window of opportunity you have to choose a health plan or switch from the one you have to another one. With the Health Insurance Marketplace – which is the market that the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) established so everybody that is uninsured or underinsured can shop for quality, affordable health insurance – the open enrollment period for this year is from Nov. 15, 2014 until Feb. 15, 2015. So, this window is closing in less than a ...
U.S. women with breast cancer do not know much about their condition, and minority women are much less likely to report accurate knowledge about their tumors, according to a new study published in the journal Cancer, Medical News Today reports. Researchers asked 500 women about their breast cancer grade, stage, and subtype. "The results showed that while 32-82% said they knew each of the tumor characteristics they were asked about, only 20-58% could actually specify them correctly," according to the news article. Latina and black women had less knowledge about their tumors. Less knowledge was also associated with having less formal education and lower health literacy. A woman's cancer knowledge is important, researchers say, because patients who fully understand their cancer may be ...
Spinach pancakes with homemade berry syrup? This is one of Febe Hernandez and her family's new favorite recipes thanks to the healthy lifestyle classes she's been attending at the Casa de Colores Headstart Center in Caldwell, Idaho. Children of migrant farmworkers living in Southern Idaho are now able to benefit from a new pilot program aimed at preventing childhood obesity among Latinos. The program, an initiative of the nonprofit Community Council of Idaho, was developed to teach parents important nutrition concepts, healthier ways of preparing food, and how to keep physically active. According to an Idaho Statesmen news article, the Community Council of Idaho recognized the need for such a program after realizing that over one-third of children in local head start centers ...
