The nutritional quality of lunches is improving in schools in Fairfax, Va., which has a large Latino student population. But the news wasn’t all good. Parents saw that, despite healthier lunch improvements, sugary drinks remained stocked in vending machines. Sugary drinks consumption contributes to increased rates of obesity and diabetes, studies show. So several parents banded together and, with the support of a member of the local school board and students alike, made a change to remove sugary drinks and replace them with healthier options in vending machines at seven schools.
EMERGENCE
Awareness: The Fairfax School District serves around 184,000 students. In the district’s 25 high schools, Latinos make up 19% of the student body. JoAnne Hammermaster has two kids in the ...
Latino kids consume more soft drinks, fruit-flavored drinks, and other sugary drinks on average than do their White peers. Sugary drink consumption contributes to increased rates of obesity and diabetes, studies show. Raising the price of sugary drinks could reduce consumption among Latino kids, and potentially improve weight outcomes, according to a new package of research materials produced jointly by Salud America! and Bridging the Gap, two national research programs funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). The new Sugary Drinks & Latino Kids research materials start with an in-depth review of the latest science on sugary drink consumption by Latino kids and how pricing strategies could influence such consumption. The materials also provide policy implications ...
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention's "Rethink Your Drink" is an educational campaign that informs kids and parents about the hidden sugar in everyday beverages. The campaign promotes water as the best alternative to sugary drinks, whether its tap water, sparkling water, or water with a little fruit juice. Communities across the country have used materials from "Rethink your Drink" to educate folks about sugary drinks. The California Department of Public Health has taken a lead role in promoting healthy beverage choices through "Rethink your Drink." Some noteworthy resources include: Brochure with sugar and calorie information on everyday drinks and healthier alternatives A pledge you and your family can sign committing to reduce your ...
Check out the The Network for a Healthy California—Rethink Your Drink Campaign, which aims to educate low-income Californians about healthy drink options. The campaign, a public health initiative led by the California Department of Public Health, also aims to help identify drinks with added sugar and make the link between consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks and health risks. In this way, the campaign hopes to shift consumption toward healthier, more affordable beverages like water. The campaign offers lots of resources, including some in Spanish: Tip sheets
Pledge cards
sugar calculations
recipes
information about a cartoon character, Potter the Otter, who loves water. Officials hope the campaign stimulates community-level partnerships and invites local ...
New York City has been a leader in adopting polices that fight childhood obesity, and with Latinos as the largest minority group in the City, these policies can make a big difference in the health of Latino children. One way New York City has been helping folks live healthier lives is through ad campaigns targeted at limiting sugary drinks, a huge source of extra calories in children's diets. As part of the Pouring on the Pounds ad campaign launched in 2009, the NYC Health Department has released a new group of ads that warn New Yorkers that a drink may sound healthy but in fact be just the opposite. The new ads encourage folks to replace high-sugar fruit-flavored drinks and sport drinks with low-fat milk and water. Check out all four ads in both English and ...
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 ...
On November 26th, 2012, Texas State Representative Carol Alvarado (D-Houston) filed legislation to ban sugary drinks from being sold in public schools. The ban would include soda, sports drinks and similar sugary beverages but would allow schools to sell or distribute 100-percent vegetable or fruit juice, vitamin-enhanced water, water without sweeteners and milk with a fat content of 1 percent or less. Rep. Alvarado introduced similar legislation in 2011, but the bill died early on. Read the full-text of the bill here On June 28, 2013 after being passed by the legislature, the bill was vetoed by Texas Governor Rick ...
With the second-highest national rate of obesity in the world (after the U.S.) and the fourth highest rate of childhood obesity, Mexico has started an initiative to help educate children about healthy eating habits and the dangers associated with sugary beverages and fatty foods, Voxxi reports. Mexican officials recently started a “Week of Taste” program in 124 schools to show children natural and simple flavors while creating a desire to eat healthy. Last year, they started a campaign to focus on getting young people to drink more water, eat more vegetables and fruit, and to exercise more. Read more here or check out this special video report by ...
Editor’s Note: This post is part of an ongoing series that will highlight the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s work in Latino communities across the country. SaludToday Guest Blog: An Interview with Jennifer Harris Young people are being exposed to a massive amount of marketing for sugary drinks, such as full-calorie sodas, sports drinks, energy drinks and fruit drinks, according to a new study from the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity. The study is the most comprehensive analysis of sugary drink nutrition and marketing ever conducted. The data indicate that the companies involved target young people, especially Black and Latino youth. In an interview, Jennifer Harris, director of marketing initiatives for the Rudd Center, details exactly how beverage ...
