Move Over 5 a Day There's a New Improved Health Campaign in Town Encouraging Moms to be Champions for Change
by Michelle Murphy Zive, M.S., R.D. The 5 a Day Campaign, which funds targeted promotions to encourage families and individuals to eat fruits and vegetables and get daily physical activity, has undergone a facelift. In May the Department of Health Services revealed the new campaign: the Network for a Healthy California and brand Champions for Change. The new campaign focuses on the following: • The mother’s ability to take control of their kitchen to increase their family’s fruit and vegetable consumption. How is the Network for a Healthy California campaign doing all this? By empowering moms, those who play a key role in motivating their families and communities to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Areas throughout California have recognized one or more Champion moms who are featured in the ad Campaign- Real Moms for Real Change. These are moms who have transformed their families and communities to make it easier to get fruits and vegetables at reasonable prices and to be physically active. The Champion mom for the San Diego & Imperial County region is Xinia Sánchez. Mrs Sánchez is an El Salvadorian native who lives in San Diego with her husband and two teenage children. Sánchez routinely reads ingredient labels and nutrition facts to ensure her food dollars are spent on healthy foods. She also encourages customers at local grocery stores to read labels as well, and helps them buy fresh produce. At home, she includes fruits and vegetables at every family meal, and limits high calorie food and drink. For her community, Sánchez has assisted in a local initiative to ensure that children have healthy kids choices on restaurant menus. To date, she's helped implement this program in 30 restaurants in south San Diego. Sánchez was also instrumental in gathering community support, including signatures and funding, to remodel a park in San Ysidro. That effort resulted in $435,000 to remodel the park bringing a safe and fun place for play for not only her children, but for those of her neighbors as well. Xinia Sánchez is just one example of what moms are capable of doing for their families and communities to encourage and support living healthier lifestyles. For more information on how you can be a Champion for your family and community, go to www.cachampionsforchange.net. Also, if you’d like to know more about healthy eating and physical activity for you and your family visit www.mypyramid.gov In the past, it was recommended that you eat five fruits and vegetables a day. Now the 5 a Day program recommends that adults eat 4 to 6.5 cups per day and children eat 3 to 5 cups a day, depending on sex, age and activity level. But what is a cup? A small apple is a cup and 15 baby carrots equal a cup. To find out exactly how many fruits and vegetables go to www.mypyramid.gov.For more information about eating fruits and vegetables, log onto www.sdnnonline.org. The San Diego and Imperial Regional Nutrition Network is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Stamp Program. An equal opportunity provider and employer, through the California Nutrition Network Healthy, Active Families. For information about the California Food Stamp Program, please call 1-800-952-5253 Funded in part, by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Stamp Program. An equal opportunity provide and employer, through the California Nutrition Network. For information about the California Food Stamp Program, please call 1-800-952-5253 Michelle Murphy Zive, M.S., R.D. is a registered dietitian with the Regional Nutrition Network and 5 a Day campaigns and the mother of three. |
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