HEAL September News - Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

September 2012 Newsletter

In This Issue

Resource of the Month: School Foods: A Guide...

Obesity Prevention Program New Data Brief

Portland School to Stop Selling Soda

Study Links Healthier Weight in Children with Strict Laws on School Snacks

Obesity Epidemic Threatens to Bankrupt the Nation

Availability of Sugary Sodas in U.S. Schools Declines

Resource of the Month

"School Foods: A Guide to Implementing the New Hampshire Administrative Rules for Education Regarding Food and Nutrition"

A toolkit designed to help schools implement the administrative rules, which impact all foods made available in New Hampshire public schools outside of the regular USDA school meals and snack programs.

The Obesity Prevention Program in the NH Department of Health and Human Services developed the toolkit in collaboration with the Community Health Institute, JSI Research and Training Institute, Inc. and the Bureau of Nutrition Programs and Services in the NH Department of Education.

Healthy Lunchtime Challenge Cookbook

Download a copy of recipes submitted from kids from all 50 States.

All recipes are healthy, affordable and delicious.

Congratulations to Ella Barrett, Age 8 from New Hampshire for her winning recipe "Black Bean and Avocado Burrito with Pineapple Salsa"

What does it mean to be a Liveable Walkable Community?

Learn more about the newly updated 2012
LWC Toolkit

The updated 2012 New Hampshire Livable Walkable Communities toolkit has been prepared for use statewide as a resource for incorporating livable, walkable community principles into local, state and regional planning programs, policies and statutes.

How will you celebrate National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month?

Use this opportunity to take action and build awareness at your workplace, in your community, or in your home. For resources and a toolkit, visit the Healthier Kids Brighter Futures website.

In The News...

Obesity Prevention Program Releases New Data Brief

The New Hampshire Obesity Prevention Program has released a new data brief, Physical Activity Among New Hampshire Adults. The data brief shows that overweight and obesity are more commonly associated with lower levels of physical activity and higher rates of chronic disease.

Continue Reading...

Portland Schools to stop selling soda

The new policies governing sales of healthy food and beverages in Portland, Maine qualified the school district to receive $90,000 from Portland Public Health under its federal obesity prevention grant.

Continue Reading...

Study Links Healthier Weight in Children With Strict Laws on School Snacks

NY TIMES - Adolescents in states with strict laws regulating the sale of snacks and sugary drinks in public schools gained less weight over a three-year period than those living in states with no such laws, a new study, published in Pediatrics, has found.

Obesity epidemic threatens to bankrupt the nation

The obesity epidemic in the U.S. will eventually bankrupt the nation if left unchecked, according to a Bipartisan Policy Center report titled "Lots to Lose: How America's Health and Obesity Crisis Threatens our Economic Future," that outlines recommendations for curbing the crisis. Download Executive Summary of the Report.

Click here for additional news on the HEAL NH Website

Availability of Sugary Sodas in U.S. Middle and High Schools Declines Significantly

Sports drinks, other sugary beverages still widely available. One in four U.S. public high school students could buy regular soda in school during the 2010-11 school year, down from more than half who could do so just four years earlier, according to a new study published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

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We hope you enjoy our newsletter and find it a helpful resource. Help us spread the word by this newsletter to colleagues who might be interested in learning about HEAL strategies and sharing information.

Thank you for your partnership and continued support.

Sincerely,

Terry Johnson, Director

Healthy Eating Active Living NH

www.healnh.org

tjohnson@healthynh.com

125 Airport Rd.

Concord, New Hampshire 03301

603.415.4273

About HEAL

HEAL envisions a New Hampshire where all residents enjoy health and quality of life through healthy eating and active living.

Our core mission is to work in collaboration with our partners to inspire, advance and support policies, systems and environmental changes to promote healthy people in healthy places throughout New Hampshire.

HEAL started in 2008 and is led by the Foundation for Healthy Communities, a non-profit New Hampshire organization focused on improving health and health care through innovative partnerships.

HEAL Funders

Funding is provided by the HNHfoundation, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation, Endowment for Health, NH Charitable Foundation, NH Department of Health and Human Services, and Convergence Partnership Fund of Tides Foundation.