Newsletter- March 31, 2017

A Houston/Harris County Childhood Obesity Prevention Collaborative

March 2017 / Issue No. 52

Healthy Living Matters Advocacy Day April 3rd!

Friends,

It's not too late to register for the Healthy Living Matters Advocacy Day at the Capitol on Monday, April 3rd. This trip to our state's capitol will include meetings with Texas legislators and their staff. We will be educating lawmakers about our policy priorities and discussing how our collaborative's great work benefits Harris County and the great State of Texas. We hope you're able to join us as we showcase why our ongoing work is so important to Harris County residents.

We would love to have all interested members of our collaborative join us. Please register at the link below if you would like to participate.

For a schedule of the day's event or for questions contact Mark Solano at msolano@hcphes.org

IN THIS ISSUE

Healthy Living Matters Celebrates National Nutrition Month!

Highlighting the Great Work of Brighter Bites

Celebrating our Community Gardens

Obesity Action Coalition; Kid's Corner

Texas Obesity News

National Obesity News

Research & Reports

Upcoming Events

Contact us: 713-439-6082 info@healthylivingmatters.net www.healthlivingmatters.net

Healthy Living Matters Celebrates National Nutritional Month!

Thank you to everyone who participated and made National Nutrition Month a month to remember!

Over the course of National Nutrition Month 2017, Healthy Living Matters and partner organizations worked together to highlight the importance of healthy eating and proper nutrition. A special thank you goes out to our friends at CAN DO Houston who in partnership provide nutritious snacks through the Healthy Corner Store Initiative.

CAN Do Houston and HLM staffers supporting the Healthy Corner Store Initiative. From left to right: Lisa Reisner, Suelynn Huynh, Mark Solano and Jalissa Wilson

HLM was also super excited to host the first of many "Bring your Favorite Salad to Work Day". HLM staff had a fantastic time exploring and learning how many healthy options can be infused into a salad. We would like to give a special shout out to Nathaniel Holloway, a CDC Public Health Associate who brought in the most amazing salad for all of us to enjoy.

Our great staff enjoying "Bring your Favorite Salad to Work Day".

HLM also enjoyed the opportunity to join the Directors of Health Promotion and Education (DHPE) in a Twitter chat to discussion healthy eating strategies and the best ways to stay focused on personal nutrition standards. To view the chat check out our HLM Twitter page here.

National Nutrition Month is an annual campaign created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics that focuses on the importance of making informed food choices. If you would like to partner with HLM in the future with similar events then please contact Mark Solano at msolano@hcphes.org

Highlighting the Great Work of Brighter Bites

Recently, HLM had the opportunity to participate with Brighter Bites, an organization engaging schools and communities to provide students and their families with fresh foods and nutritional education.

HLM staffers joined Brighter Bites and participating families at Morales Elementary in Pasadena, Texas to bag fresh fruits and vegetables for families of students. This partnership event was made special by assisting residents in the City of Pasadena, a designated HLM priority community.

Healthy Living Matters Project Coordinator, Frances Nguyen enjoying bagging nutritional foods for students at Morales Elementary in Pasadena, Texas.

Volunteers packed greater than 170 bags of nutritional fruits and vegetables. Watermelons, potatoes, onions, oranges and many other healthy options went on to be distributed to students and families of the schools.

If you or your organization would like more details on how to participate with Brighter Bites, visit their website or contact Mark Solano at msolano@hcphes.org

Celebrating our Community Gardens

In honor of National Nutrition Month (NNM), HLM is celebrating the many community gardens that provide fresh produce to Harris County residents. Gardens are amazing tools that provide communities with a sense of ownership while developing community identity and spirit.

HLM would like to recognize The Recipe for Success Foundation, CAN DO Houston and many others who work incredibly hard to create and maintain various community gardens in our area. Below are some great photos of residents who participate and benefit from their work.

Students at MacGregor celebrating the VegOut 2nd Annual Pulling of the Carrots (The Recipe For S uccess Foundation )

MLK volunteer day with Mission Continues. All 5 platoons and their families joined to raise beds, raise a garden house frame and plant fruit trees (The Recipe For Success Foundation).

Community gardens continue to prove beneficial for residents and give our youth lessons on the importance of environmental sustainability while providing a sense of ownership. We are thankful for all the parents and volunteers who take part in educating our future generations on the benefits of healthy eating.

If you would like more information on community garden activity near you visit The Recipe for Success Foundation or CAN Do Houston. You can also contact Mark Solano at msolano@hcphes.org

Obesity Action Coalition, Kid's Corner Resources

The Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) has specific initiatives geared towards child obesity. In their "Your Weight Matters Magazine" publication you can find a specific section for children and their parents titled "Kid's Corner".

The goal of the Kid's corner is to promote health conversations between parent and child.

Various articles included discuss tips for healthy eating, physical activity, and social issues associated with child obesity. Access to the "Kid's corner is a benefit provided to OAC members. To learn more about membership, click here.