After-school programs are a great way for kids to learn new things, get ahead on school work, and just play around with friends. However, some after-school program leaders say they don't always have access to healthy, energizing snacks to hand out to hungry children. Some researchers at the Tufts University hope to change that. The Snack It Up pilot program was created by Healthy Kids Out of School, an initiative of ChildObesity180 at Tufts University in Medford, MA. Snack it Up connects selected out-of-school program with grocery providers to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables for area children who participate in out-of-school activities. The Dallas-Fort Worth area, where Latinos make up 20% of the population, has been chosen as one of the pilot locations ...
A popular community garden in San Francisco's Ingleside Heights neighborhood has been so successful with residents that Peter Vaernet, the man behind that garden, wants to plant a new one just a few blocks away in Merced Heights, on 2 undeveloped acres of the grassy promenade known as Brotherhood Way. Another garden may be a welcome addition for many reasons. This community is considered a food desert by the USDA. Nearly 15 percent of households in the area speak a language other than English at home, mostly Spanish and Asian languages, according to census data. The recent closing of a large neighborhood grocery store left only one other full-service grocery in the area, but that store's pricing is out of many families' budget. Thus, folks may welcome a new garden as ...
See what John Z Wetmore of Perils for Pedestrians has to say about developing more walkable communities. One great idea for developing safe places to walk is that of constructing sidewalks and trails along the same route that power lines are constructed. Local municipalities can enter shared-use agreements with utility companies to provide pedestrians with a place to walk. See some pictures and examples of sidewalks built along utility right-of-ways here. For more ideas and basic information on the development of pedestrian ways like sidewalks, and bridges, view the Perils for Pedestrians right of way trails and special topics page. If you have photos or know of a great example of a utility right of way trail, take a picture of it and send it in to Perils for Pedestrians, so that ...
Schools and parents in Miami Shores are joining the movement to make biking and walking to school easier for local students. This year students from three schools in Miami Shores---Doctors Charter School of Miami Shores, Miami Shores Community Church School, and St. Rose of Lima Parish---all joined in on the excitement of National Bike to School day. In this video, parent Patrice Gilspie-Smith speaks of a survey she is conducting to find out how parents feel about their kids walking to school. According to Gilspie-Smith, parents would love for their kids to walk to school, but they feel that the high traffic in the area is intimidating. Find out what other schools across the nation participated in Bike to School Day 2013 and learn how to get your local school involved, by visiting ...
Most physicians would agree that walking is a valuable way of getting necessary amounts of physical activity. It's free and it's healthy. But how many can say that they actually walk with their patients? Well Dr. David Sabgir, a cardiologist from Ohio, can! Now physicians all across the nation are joining Dr. Sabgir in getting their patients to walk! Perhaps there's a physician in your city who's also chosen to lead a walking group. To find out if a doctor near you is leading a walking group, check out the Walk With a Doc map. Or to join the network, visit the sign-up page. Physicians and clinics who join the network get: 1) A tool-kit: Steps for starting your walk (including templates for fliers,
posters, letterhead, etc)
2 ) Walk with a Doc T-shirts
3 ) Walk with a Doc ...
According to a San Antonio Express- News article, local residents can now enjoy several options for staying active through free programming offered by the city's Parks and Recreation Department. Because fitness programming and gym memberships are often expensive, cities like San Antonio, TX are often looking for alternative ways to keep residents active. After participating in classes for a brief time, some program participants, like Gabrielle Gullete, say they have already noticed improvements in their health. “I think more people need to know about what the city offers,” Gullette said. “I had no idea what my options were.” Gullete also added that since joining the free fitness classes, four months prior, she lost 25 pounds. According to the San Antonio ...
Putting food on the table can be tough for many families. Trying to put healthy food on the table can be even tougher. When families need a little extra support, they can turn to local food pantries or soup kitchens. Thanks to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), resources like food pantries will be able to serve more fruits and veggies to families in need. In early 2013, the USDA announced its intent to purchase up to $126.4 million worth of fruit and vegetable products for distributed to needy families under The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). This purchase will expand efforts to provide high-quality, wholesome, domestically-produced foods to support low-income families in need of emergency food assistance. "Food distribution programs are a vital part of our ...
In New York City the children's museum has dreamed-up a creative way to tackle rising rates of childhood obesity. The Children’s Museum of Manhattan in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health is hoping to teach children to love fruits and vegetables through hands-on learning. The permanent exhibit features a food-based curriculum called “Eat Play Grow,” which comes with ready-made lessons in both Spanish and English on things like portion control, healthy drinks, exercising and sleeping. While similar efforts have been aimed at older school-age children, this program is devised specifically to reach kids under-5 through interactive displays, classes infused with art and music, and workshops for their parents. And the learning doesn't stop when ...
Latinos make up almost 50% of the folks living in the Boston area, many of which struggle with diet-related disease like diabetes. One medical center is hoping to make a difference in the lives of lower-income patients. Boston-area patients are receiving prescriptions for nutritious food, thanks to the Preventative Food Pantry located at the Boston Medical Center. Patients who need a little extra help buying nutritious food for themselves and their families can bring their doctor-written "prescriptions" to the pantry and swap it for fruits, veggies, and more. There is also a food demonstration kitchen where folks can learn how to cook healthy food so that it tastes great. Many other health care providers across the country are following this trend of on-site ...
