Center for Health Transformation Georgia Project

Food Revolution

I was just introduced to a new TV show - ' Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution.'  For an eye-opening look into food and our children check out this series.  Jamie is a chef from Essex who believes that every child in America has the right to fresh, nutritious school meals, and that every family deserves real, honest, wholesome food. He is starting a movement to get Americans to stand up for better food!

In one part of the series Jamie talked with a group of 5-year olds and quizzed them on identifying different foods.  He picked up a raw potato and asked if anyone knew what it was.  Not one child knew.  Then he held up a red, ripe tomato and again, not one child could identify it.  The same with cauliflower and other fresh vegetables.  Then he held up pizza - identified!  The same with french fries, chicken nuggets, hamburgers. It reflects the foods many of our children are exposed to and which ones they are not. 

I'm looking forward to seeing the series unfold and observing transformation in progress.  This series will provide some great lessons on changing health behaviors.  From the school system, to the individual school, to the homes, the parents and the children it will be an amazing journey.  Check it out on Friday evenings, 9 pm EST on ABC.

Healthways-Blue Zones Vitality Quest

Healthways, Inc. (NASDAQ: HWAY) and Blue Zones, LLC, announced the establishment of Healthways-Blue Zones Vitality QuestSM, an exclusive, strategic relationship to create, support and sustain a national movement to improve community health and well-being, initially for cities in the U.S.

Vitality Quest will be working with select communities across the nation to help them earn designation as a Healthways-Blue Zones Vitality City^SM, a community in which people are healthier, happier, live longer, are more vital and more productive, and who enjoy an improved standard of living -- in other words, a city whose citizens enjoy a measurably higher level of well-being and lower healthcare costs. 

Vitality Quest is launching a national search for a highly motivated community wanting to take advantage of the best expertise available to become the inaugural Vitality City.  For more information visit http://www.vitality-city.com. The deadline for Statement of Interest submissions is May 14, 2010.

 

Monitoring Your Health

There are some very good tools available to help us monitor our health.  One such tool is Heart360(R). Available on the American Heart Association website, Heart360(R) is a convenient and secure location for you to track and manage your heart health. 

You can record your health data with the online trackers, access additional information and resources on how to be heart healthy, and share your results with your health care provider.   You can track your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose, medications, weight and physical activity at the site.  Take charge of your health!  Start today.