Welcome to Perspectives, the monthly letter from AHA Director Sheree Vodicka.
Two things have happened in the past couple of weeks that are noteworthy as they relate to healthy eating: Mayor Bloomberg's plan to ban the sale of regular sodas greater than 16 ounces, and Disney's announcement that it will stop advertising less healthy foods to kids on TV and radio.
Plus I want to share two quick storeis I heard this past week.
Schools Showcase Healthy Lifestyles and Win Brains and Bodies Award
WCPSS Supt. Tony Tata (right) joined AHA to present the awards on May 30. Here he congratulates student Ari Ypema and the entire Davis Drive Elementary Wellness Committee on its award.
Healthy students are growing across Wake County! AHA congratulates the 14 schools that won 2012 Brains and Bodies Awards for creating a healthier school environment.
We invite parents and educators across Wake County to learn about what these award-winning schools are doing, often at little or no expense, to impact health in a positive way.
The awards program is designed not only to recognize schools, but also to educate them about how they can make improvements. Plus the process allows other schools to learn about winning schools' policies and projects and adapt them as appropriate in their schools.
Get inspired by Laurel Park Elementary's student-led Healthy Idea Team; they are featured in this video from the May 30 awards presentation! Then visit AHA's web site for:
This new natural playground at Blue Jay Point Park features a fort-making area, Blue Jay Castle, Stump Jump and more!
It's summer time, and the livin' is easy! Whether you're planning a "staycation" or just looking for a checklist of awesome things to do and places to go right here in Wake County this summer, AHA offers 10 ideas (in no particular order) for you. This was a popular feature last summer, so we have refreshed it for 2012!
Visit AHA's web site for our Summer Staycation ideas and let us know if you have additional ideas we can share!
Swim Season: Swim the Coast of Roanoke Island in the Pool!
Why not take advantage of swim season and give yourself and your family a little challenge?
Log your laps at your neighborhood or community pool and swim the 8 miles along the coastline from one end of Roanoke Island (just across the harbor from Manteo on the Outer Banks) to the other.
Take the plunge and use this tracking sheet to log your laps/miles. If you start this week and swim 9 laps a day for five days a week (assuming a 25-yard-lap), you'll be done by Labor Day! Explore the history of The Lost Colony as you track your swim journey!
AHA fosters and supports community efforts to make healthy eating and physical activity the way of life in Wake County. Simply put, we are working to make the healthy choice the easy choice!
AHA Partner in the Spotlight:
Youth Empowered Solutions (YES!)
Empowering youth to make a change in their community is what YES! is all about.
Here in Wake County we now have even more ways to access local food from local farmers: Waverly Farmers' Market in Cary, and LoMo Market is rolling into Wake in a few different places. Learn more about them!