Editor’s Note: This is a 20-part series featuring new research briefs on Latino childhood obesity, nutrition, physical activity and more by the 20 grantees of Salud America! Part 14 is Dr. Myriam Torres. Find all briefs here. Dr. Myriam Torres
“Voices of Latina Mothers and School Staff on Childhood Obesity” In her Salud America! pilot research project, Dr. Myriam Torres of the University of South Carolina brought together public health researchers, community leaders and Latino families to study and develop effective policy recommendations regarding physical activity among Latino children from a growing immigrant settlement in West Columbia, S.C. Key preliminary findings include: main barriers to healthy eating and physical activity among Latino children include ...
Food access and mobile food vendors make eating healthy food a challenge in Texas colonias—rural, predominantly Latino settlements along the U.S.-Mexican border that often lack water, electricity, and other infrastructure. Check out a video discussion of colonia issues with Dr. Joseph Sharkey, a professor at The Texas A&M Health Sciences Center and a Healthy Eating Research ...
The Utah Department of Health recently released several videos, "For Me, For Us," to offer reliable health care information to racial/ethnic minorities, the Daily Herald reports. Each video tackles healthy eating, access to health care and healthy births, and other health challenges facing minorities in Utah. One of the videos targets Latinos. Watch in English or Spanish or ...
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has launched MiPlato.gov, the Spanish-language version of ChooseMyPlate.gov, that serves as a reminder to help Latino consumers make healthier food choices. MyPlate and MiPlato emphasize the five food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins and dairy, and are supported by consumer messages, such as "Make Half Your Plate Fruits and Vegetables." "USDA's new MyPlate food icon is a simple reminder to help Americans think about their food choices in order to lead healthier lifestyles and today we are proud to introduce its Spanish-language partner, MiPlato, to help Hispanic consumers at mealtime," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "Regardless of our primary language, it is important that we all learn about and embrace healthy eating habits ...
Watch San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro's award-winning introductory video about SABalance.org, the city's new website touting healthy eating and physical activity for local families, schools, and more. The video won bronze Telly awards in the health and wellness and instructional categories. Watch the winning video here or below. Watch other SABalance videos ...
The "Garden Angel" program at Oak Meadow Elementary School in San Antonio, supported by parent and grandparent volunteers, promotes nutritious eating and reinforces the school's commitment to health as a member of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Program. Students take part in planting, caring for and harvesting vegetables throughout the year. Students are encouraged to experiment with new tastes and try new vegetables. “Children learn early on that taking an active role in a garden can be rewarding," said Lori Chapa, outdoor classroom coordinator at the school. "They take pride in the garden they have cared for and are excited to eat what they have grown. We hope this practice will promote healthier eating habits and lifestyles today and for years ...
There's a good chance you're one of the many kids or parents who've enjoyed reading about the unsatiable worm in The Very Hungry Caterpillar, the famous children's book by Eric Carle. Now the fast-eating caterpillar, who gets a tummy ache from eating too much, is helping families learn to eat healthy. The Alliance for a Healthier Generation and the American Academy of Pediatrics have joined with the children’s book and with We Give Books to help teach families about healthy eating habits at home. The Eating Healthy. Growing Strong. campaign is an important part of the Alliance’s mission to combat childhood obesity. This spring, more than 17,500 pediatrician offices across the nation will receive free copies of specially created The Very Hungry Caterpillar books, ...
During Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) on Nov. 2, Latino families gather to remember relatives who have died and often honor their memory by preparing the relative’s favorite foods. This is an opportunity to celebrate and incorporate traditional, healthy Mexican eating patterns into American diets. Studies show that, as U.S. Latinos become more “Americanized,” eating patterns shift to include more fast food and sugar-sweetened beverages and less fruit. Coupled with less active lifestyles, these new eating patterns can lead to weight gain, obesity and diabetes in adults and children. “Día de los Muertos is an opportunity for families to celebrate their culture and improve their health with more traditional eating patterns,” said Monica Montes, registered dietitian ...
