Studies have shown that Latino kids consume more sugary sweet beverages than their non-white peers and over-consumption of sugary beverages has also been linked to health risks like diabetes and obesity. When obesity rates are rising and more than one in three Latino kids are predicted to have diabetes in the near future, healthier options are a must for kids menu's. Helping to assist parents and kids on making the easy choice the healthy choice when dining out, DineEquity, owner of Applebee's and IHOP restaurants have decided to completely remove the option of soda on their kids' menus. This is the first family-dining restaurant to promote and incorporate this change throughout their national chain of restaurants. Organizations like Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), ...
In 2009 Douglas Johnson, the new principal at Mountlake Terrace Elementary School in Mountlake Terrace, Wash. (10.5% Latino), realized the enormity of physical inactivity and obesity in his community. Latino kids lack safe, quality opportunities for physical activity, which heightens their risk for obesity and disease. Safe biking opportunities provide one avenue to improve the situation. Johnson and other leaders at Mountlake Terrace started taking advantage of existing opportunities offered by local cycling clubs. Soon, they began creating their opportunities and helped bring new bikes, helmets, and a brand-new bike trail to the school to expand students’ ability to get the physical activity they need to stay healthy.
Kids Aren't Playing Enough
In 2009 Douglas Johnson, ...
Tom Vilsack announced on November 17, 2015, that $4.8 million dollars would go towards grants for states needing support for child nutrition programs that include local farmers and ranchers through Farm to School programs. The grants will provide over 5,211 schools projects that include various initiatives to connect farmers and ranchers to schools and support school nutrition with fresh produce. The 2016 Farm to School Grants summary page includes lists of all the projects that will be funded through the grant, working in states across the country that are mainly schools eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Projects include, connecting local farmers with schools, culinary trainings, harvesting projects, food hubs, training of best practices, local food processing kitchens, and ...
This year in July, the bill for the farm to school program passed in Hawai'i, allowing funding for a farm to school program coordinator and also bringing more awareness to the state with support from local politicians and community members. School advocates visited the National Farm to Cafeteria Conference in 2014 in Austin, Texas and learned about legislation and how they can put healthier food policy into practice. Needing funding for an official state Farm to School Coordinator, the efforts for policy change began. After defining the policy goal in mind, the National Farm to School Network worked with Hawai'i leaders, giving them resources and fact sheets to raise awareness of farm to school activities and getting more supporters on board. The bill was approved after the farm to ...
New proposals in Maine are rising as health concerns of soda and junk food are being linked to obesity and health issues. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is used by low-income families to purchase foods and beverages for their families. Recent reports from the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that in the 2015 fiscal year, soft drinks and sugary beverages accounted for 58 percent of all beverage purchases by SNAP and WIC participants. From the same study, SNAP was estimated in paying at least $1.7 billion to $2.1 billion annually for sugary beverages within grocery stores. Spending over $115 million in medical claims related to obesity from the state's Medicaid program, the Department of Health and Human Services is opting to ban all soda's and candy items ...
Food policy Action, a non-profit based in D.C has created a National Food Policy Score Scorecard: 2015 Progress report. This report helps voters understand which legislators are voting for issues that impact the food system. The report includes a scorecard that evaluates the members of congress based on the house votes taken on food-related legislation. It reveals who is more involved and scores members on action taken, giving the highest score of 100 to Legislators with the most action toward healthy food system change.There is also a map (picture shown above) that shows the House of Representatives in regards to districts and food-policy voting. This resource breaks down various bills related to agriculture, GMO's, free meal assistance and current 2015 acts like Farm to School ...
A recent article reveals that sugary beverages are a hot topic in the news, especially when health issues like diabetes and health costs are at hand. Cancer survivor and Connecticut democrat, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro has proposed that the nation take a stand against the current health issues linked to sugary drinks-diabetes, obesity, chronic disease- by introducing a bill that would tax consumers one cent per teaspoon of sugar. The American Beverage Association stated in the article that, "The soda tax is an old idea that has gotten no traction." However, recent news articles from the Wall Street Journal reported soda sales have plummeted in the last few years, and consumers are taking notice of healthier alternatives. There has been plenty of conversation and traction taking ...
Through the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) "Take the Plunge to Better Health" grant, doctors in San Antonio, TX ( % Latino) will be able to prescribe swimming lessons for kids that would benefit from physical activity. San Antonio is one of a handful of cities that are linking the medical community with local park and recreation agencies to provide kids the opportunity to participate in physical activity to reduce obesity and improve their health. Swimming is an excellent form of physical activity to prevent obesity and diabetes and improve health. It increases blood flow to the brain and promotes cardiovascular, muscular, skeletal, and nervous system health. Additionally, it puts less strain on joints and connective tissues and is associated with fewer head ...
California is full of food, unfortunately, many of the low-income areas are full of unhealthy options like fast food or foods highly processed and high in sodium or fats. The state has four million people with inadequate access to healthy and affordable fresh foods, but the future looks good. This October marked a change for low-income Californian's as a new bill was introduced to help allow low-income shoppers match their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits dollar for dollar at local farmer's markets. The California Nutrition Incentives Act (AB1231), could create the nutrition matching incentive program within the state's Office of Farm to Fork, where individual consumers, and school districts directly connect with California's farmers, ranchers, and resources ...
