For many years, Baltimore’s inner city neighborhoods have been missing supermarkets and healthy food options, but in one neighborhood that’s about to change. In early March 2013, Apples and Oranges Fresh Food Market opened its doors for the first time to the East Baltimore community. With the goal to bring healthy, affordable food into the neighborhood, Apples and Oranges also boasts a large prepared foods section as well. In addition to offering fresh produce and healthy prepared food, the market boasts no sugary drinks in sight, a unique and welcome feature of this new healthy ...
After struggling to be placed on a list of projects to be funded by the 2012-2017 Bond, residents living in the St. James and Normoyle Park Area located in the Southside of San Antonio (district 5), secured funds to create a safer park for their children. A united community and support from local residents was an important aspect of demonstrating the need for improvements in this park. In this video residents from district 5, near Normoyle Park, gathered to discuss why improvements to the park were needed. The need for lights in the park, as well as fairness in how bond funds should be distributed among the community were discussed. This video demonstrates how Maria Lugo, Gerry Noriega, and residents from the St. James and Normoyle Park area addressed the city council to thank former ...
Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina has been mindful about supplying nutritious food to the hungry in the past, but the staff wanted to do more. Supplying healthy food can be tricky for a food bank, which relies on donations. Sometimes it does receive cash instead of food. When buying food, the food bank always chooses items that fall within the USDA’s nutritional guidelines. But what about when the food bank has to rely on someone else’s generosity? Saying no isn’t easy. But Second Harvest has taken a big step in the right direction by hiring a full-time nutritionist; they are the only food bank in the state that has one. She handles such tasks as reviewing purchase plans to make sure the food bank is buying the healthiest foods it can. She also teaches ...
Maryvale on the Move works to influence and bring about healthy changes to Maryvale and Canyon Corridor--two predominantly Latino neighborhoods in Phoenix. Residents from the Maryvale neighborhood of Phoenix met for a series of workshops to provide input as to what improvements needed to be made in their community. Some expressed concern over a lack of lighting and a need for more physical activity and less junk food in their neighborhoods. Residents also made recommendations like installing a roundabout to calm traffic and establishing Farmers' Markets. After meeting with groups of local residents from these neighborhoods, and community organizations, Maryvale on the Move identified four goals. The four goals are: (1) create community gardens; (2) increase availability of ...
San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro appointed the Mayor’s Fitness Council (MFC) in May 2010. The mission of the Mayor’s Fitness Council is to transform San Antonio into a healthier and more active community in which citizens, groups, and organizations achieve targeted health and fitness goals through initiatives in the following areas: media and promotions;
fitness;
nutrition;
healthy schools;
work-site wellness; and
policy. The MFC is also encouraging youth to be health ambassadors through the Mayor's Fitness Council Student Ambassador program. These outstanding kids are committed to bringing healthier lifestyles into their schools and communities. Watch the video to learn more about the Student Ambassador Program. To learn more about the Mayor's Fitness Council ...
Mississippi State House members approved legislation in February 2013 that would give state support to owners of supermarkets and convenience stores so they could sell healthful foods in areas where fresh alternatives to fried foods are not available. The Healthy Food Retail Act would require the Mississippi Development Authority to set up a loan program for market owners who want to give customers healthful food alternatives. The bill died in committee at the beginning of April ...
Supermarkets and pharmacies are well-positioned in their communities to encourage folks to make healthier food and drink choices. However, some stores continue to promote sugary drinks over healthier options, like water. The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) along with other advocacy groups and health professionals are calling on store owners to rethink how they market sugary drinks and to consider giving no and low calorie drink options more prominent shelf space. Little decisions like placing a case of bottled water at the check out line instead of soda is a small but effective way for a store owner to promote better beverage choices in the community. CSPI and others have crafted letters to send to large supermarket and pharmacy stores urging them to consider making ...
Healthy Kids Choice is a Healthy Shasta initiative to partner with restaurants in Shasta County to offer and promote healthy options for children. The goals of the Healthy Kids Choice program are to have healthy options available on kids' menus, to encourage children to eat more fruits and vegetables, to decrease children's fat and sugar intake, to spotlight and promote healthier options for kids, and to assist restaurants in making the healthy choice appealing, available and affordable. Live in Shasta County? Are any of these restaurants in your area? Have you asked restaurants in your area what they are doing to help the community ...
Farmers' markets around the country have tougher rules and regulations than your average supermarket. While these rules are intended to protect customers from unsafe food, sometimes the rules limit what a farmer can sell and how they can sell it, making it harder on the farmer to make money and harder for the customer to get fresh, healthy produce. A Texas bill signed into law in June 2013 hopes to relax some of these rules. H.B. 1382, introduced by Rep. David Simpson (R- Longview) relaxes some existing regulations and fees making it easier for sellers at farmers’ markets to provide cooking demonstrations and food samples to patrons. More samples and cooking demos means more folks are able to learn how they can use fresh, healthy produce to enhance their family's ...
