Bike Lanes Make Their Way to Zilker Elementary in Austin, TX



Children will now have the opportunity to bike safely to school thanks to a first-of-it's kind protected bike lane installed near Zilker Elementary in Austin, TX. An article from DC.Streetsblog.org reports that the location of this new bike lane is what make it unique. Typically bike lanes are installed in high-traffic, downtown areas, but this one was installed specifically to get more children biking. According to Austin's bicycle program manager, Chad Crager, that's exactly what's happening. He says that prior to installing the bike lane only two students biked to school. Now up to 40 students bike to school. Although some parents initially had their doubts about the project, which took away a parking lane from the school, parents have now taken a liking to it and say that ...

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Alliance for a Healthier Generation Partners with the Boys and Girls Club for Healthier Foods During Out-of-School Time



The Alliance for a Healthier Generation has teamed up with the Boys and Girls Club of America to improve the health and wellness of kids in out-of-school time settings. In this new initiative, leading food companies and purchasing organizations have agreed to extend the discounts and services they offer schools, to out-of-school time programs. Participating food companies have agreed to offer healthy foods that meet the Alliance for a Healthier Generation guidelines and USDA nutrition standards at prices no higher than comparable products that are less healthy. Along with these price adjustments, out-of-school time programs could save 10 – 20 percent on their food and beverage purchasing. More than 15% of American youth are involved in after-school programs and ...

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City of Lawrence Helps Residents Plant Seeds



Many neighborhoods in Lawrence, Kansas, where Latinos make up the largest minority group, haven't had access to a full-service grocery store in years.  In northern Lawrence the situation has gotten so bad that the area is declared a USDA food desert, a low-income neighborhood where the closest grocery store is more than 2 miles away. While the community and business leaders work on getting a grocery store into the neighborhood, city officials decided that if they couldn't get fresh produce to come to Lawrence, they would start growing their own. The Common Ground Program, created by the City of Lawrence in 2012, is a community gardening and urban agriculture program that seeks to transform vacant or under-utilized city properties into vibrant sites of healthy food production ...

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New Interactive Website from Bridging the Gap on State Laws for School Snack Foods and Beverages



Bridging the Gap, a Robert Wood Johnson funded national research program focused on understanding how policy and environmental factors affect the health of today's youth, has created the new interactive website about school snack foods and beverages State Laws for School Snack Foods and Beverages. The website covers laws in all fifty states over the course of seven school years and displays the information in colorful, easy to understand visuals. A map of a school is found on the website, which is interactive and allows users to click on each area where foods and beverages may be served at school. By clicking on an area the user gets an up to date summary on the current national status of laws for that topic, and is given links to more specific related issues. Bridging the Gap ...

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Commentary: Let’s Trim Obesity, Diabetes from Latino Lifestyles



Commentary by Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez San Antonio is what the entire United States will look like in 40 years, some say. That’s good news, but not all good. San Antonio’s large Latino population contributes immeasurably to the diverse culture and vitality of our city, just as the continued growth of the Latino population benefits our nation as a whole. At the same time, some families in our heavily Latino neighborhoods increasingly lack access to the kinds of neighborhood amenities that Americans rely upon to stay healthy, and face some obstacles to good health. These are challenges to health in all Latino cities across the country. Research has found that, nationally, Latinos live in areas with more fast-food restaurants and unhealthy food advertising, and higher ...

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New Bilingual Cookbook: Latinas’ Tasty Recipes Get Cancer-Fighting Makeover



Eating the right food can help fight cancer. But what foods are right? Are there such things as healthy—and tasty—traditional Latino dishes? Check out a new bilingual cookbook, Nuestra Cocina Saludable: Recipes from Our Community Kitchen, to guide you and your family to eat healthy and help protect against cancer and other chronic diseases. The cookbook is from the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) and the Cancer Therapy and Research Center (CTRC) at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio. Download the free cookbook in English or Spanish. Inside are 46 recipes for healthy, delicious foods straight from real Latina kitchens. The cookbook originated when Latinas from across South Texas shared their mouth-watering recipes—like Aurora Rodriguez of Eagle ...

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Get Authorized to be a Farmers’ Market SNAP Vendor with MarketLink


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Farmers' Markets are a great way to bring fresh, local produce into a community. To make sure this healthy fare is available to all, many markets purchase machines that allow them to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formally known as food stamps) benefits. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently contracted with the National Association of Farmers Market Nutrition Programs (NAFMNP) to create MarketLink, a new way for farmers’ markets and direct-marketing farmers to get authorized as SNAP vendors and get the equipment they need to accept SNAP benefits. Click here to access MarketLink and to get authorized to be a SNAP vendor.  Before MarketLink, each new SNAP vendor had to search out an equipment provider, select a wireless plan, ...

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Produce Truck Rolling into Florida Neighborhoods in Need



A food bank in Sarasota County is now able to bring fresh, healthy food to  front doors. Private-sector donations have enabled the All Faiths Food Bank to purchase a refrigerated truck, named Sprout, for transporting and delivering fresh fruits and vegetables to folks who need them. The custom-made vehicle is designed so people can walk inside the storage area to select their goods. A retractable shelter on the side of the truck will allow food bank employees to offer cooking demonstrations and provide other tips for healthy eating. Customers who qualify for assistance will be given vouchers, so they can choose fruits and vegetables themselves. Read more ...

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Washington Governor Puts Childhood Obesity on the State’s Agenda



Washington Governor Jay Inslee has announced his health care agenda for 2014, and set reducing and preventing childhood obesity as a top priority. One proposal would lead to revised health and fitness standards for schools. It would also deploy experts in state government to work with K-12 schools, preschools, and maternity-care programs, encouraging healthful practices such as breast feeding. Read more ...

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