Latinos in the Minneapolis area will soon have the opportunity to learn more about healthy eating on a budget. The Midtown Farmers Market has been collaborating with Community Action of Minneapolis (CAMPLS) to launch a new program called Comprando Rico y Sano. The Program is being implemented across the country by the National Council of La Raza, and aims to educate and improve the health of Latino communities nationwide.
The program focuses on training community members and leaders to become promotores de salud (lay health educators). These promotores work in the community, organizing groups and lead interactive educational sessions, or charlas, to help educate families on how to lead more healthy, affordable lifestyles. In addition to teaching nutrition, the ...
With all the Smart Snack changes rolling out in schools nationwide this fall, attention may begin to turn to what kids are buying at the grocery store. One food company is making major improvements in what they offer and how they market it to kids. Giant Eagle is in the process of installing the go-to kid sections, labeled "Kids' Healthy Snack Zone," in about 400 stores in the mid-Atlantic and Ohio. And Walmart is piloting the concept in 30 stores in California, with plans to roll it out to 1,500 stores later this fall. Bolthouse Farms is responsible for making this effort in grocery stores throughout the US. They are the same company that released the extreme baby carrot campaign, which marketed ranch and chili-lime dusted carrots as go-to snacks for kids. The company has been ...
According to a Safe Routes National Partnership blog, two communities that are finding success with shared use agreements are the Cumberland Valley in Kentucky and Los Angeles, California (48.5% Latino). Shared use agreements are formal agreements that keep school playgrounds open to the public, during non-school hours. With access to green space, playground equipment, and fitness trails, through a shared use agreement, kids and their families can be more active. Because Latino kids often live in low-income neighborhoods that lack safe places to play, and because they have fewer opportunities to stay active after school hours, it's important for community partners to find ways to enter shared use agreements with local schools, churches, and recreational centers. In South Los ...
Latino kids need access to recreational opportunities that keep them active after school hours. According to the Safe Routes to School National Partnership studies have shown that 84% of kids who live near schools that keep playgrounds open are more likely to be active. One way to ensure that school playgrounds and facilities are kept open is to establish a formal agreement called a shared use agreement. Learn more about shared use agreements and access resources at the Safe Routes to School National Partnership's Shared Use Clearinghouse, by clicking ...
Child care centers are increasingly becoming aware of how their policies can set young kids on a healthy path for years to come The Illinois Joint Commission on Administrative Rules announced new standards for obesity prevention in licensed child care settings statewide in August 2014. The requirements establish updated nutrition standards for healthier eating, increases in recommended physical activity time, and limits on screen time. The new standards will affect many kids who spend time in child care centers, including Latino kids. Read about the new standards here (page ...
What are the best schools for Hispanics to seek higher education? HispanicBusiness ranked the top-40 "Best Schools" based on the number of Hispanic students enrolled, degrees awarded, full-time Hispanic faculty and programs, and more. Of the 40 schools combined, Texas has 12, followed by Florida, with 10, and California, with six. "While these schools are obviously assisted by being in states with a large Hispanic population, they also have top-notch programs that ensure these students stay at home to go to graduate school," HispanicBusiness reports. "Many of them placed very high in the student-services part of our scoring." The ranking includes the top-10 in four school categories: graduate, medical, law, and business. Here are the top schools by category: ...
In some neighborhoods, the quickest place to shop for groceries is the local corner store. Unfortunately, these small stores have limited fresh produce options and often cost way more than the same items in a full-service grocery store. The University of Missouri Extension and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services are offering a new program to show communities how to improve access to healthy, affordable foods by working with small food retailers. A free Aug. 28 webinar will give community partners and retailers information about the Stock Healthy, Shop Healthy program The program, "Stock Healthy, Shop Healthy" helps community groups and retailers work together to educate consumers on the value of eating healthy at stores in their area, said MU Extension ...
In Houston (43.8% Latino), members belonging to the Ketelsen Trailblazers---a group originally formed out of the Go Neighborhoods community development initiative---are working to improve their neighborhood's streets and access to physical activity opportunities. According to a Healthy Living Matters newsletter, the Ketelsen Trailblazers recently attended a July 2014 Super Neighborhood meeting where they shared their plans for working to prioritize street improvements on the northside of the city and for reaching out to local school Parent Teacher Organizations (PTOs). By joining the city's Complete Streets Coalition the group hopes to demonstrate the need for strengthening language in the city's Complete Streets executive order. In addition to seeking street improvements, the ...
Cancer recently passed heart disease as the top killer of Latinos. But heart disease shouldn't be ignored. Culturally appropriate health promotion, prevention and treatment is vital to saving lives and preserving Latino families, said Dr. Eduardo Sanchez, chief medical officer for the American Heart Association, in a Huffington Post article. The article lists several reasons for concern: Preschool-age Hispanic children are four times more likely to be obese compared to non-Hispanic white children. These children are more likely to develop heart disease and diabetes as young adults.
Hispanic youths have higher smoking rates—28 percent of Hispanic eighth graders smoke compared to 23.7 percent of non-Hispanic white children. Smoking is the number one preventable cause ...
