We all have a role to play to ensure that our kids live the full, healthy lives they deserve. This includes everyone from moms and dads to CEOs and superintendents to mayors and community leaders. Earlier this month, the First Lady talked about how corporate leaders, in particular, can take steps on behalf of our children’s health when they realize that what is good for our children can also be good for business.

Goya, the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the United States, did just that when the company’s leaders decided to support the First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative to empower parents to make healthy choices for themselves and their families. Goya partnered with USDA’s new icon, MyPlate/MiPlato to remind consumers to build healthy plates at meal times, and the First Lady joined them in celebrating their commitment to promote healthy eating. 

By teaming up with Let’s Move! and USDA, Goya has committed to provide people with several tools to improve their health. Goya created a brochure in both English and Spanish with six healthy recipes and ten tips on how to create a well-balanced plate, a coupon for low sodium beans that is being distributed to numerous Let’s Move Faith and Communities supporters around the country, and a new label featuring the MiPlato icon on six of its low-sodium products to remind buyers that they can learn the benefits of a well-balanced, nutritious meal.

The company also brought “Get It Going with GOYA” education materials to more than 5,600 fifth grade teachers with steps for eating healthy and getting active. And the kids loved learning about healthy living: One teacher wrote, “I like that it’s manageable. It can be done in a short period of time. I love that it gives nutritional info for kids at the age of my students! I love that it gives some recipes for parents.”

Goya’s commitment to promote MyPlate and MiPlato is a great example of how businesses can take a leadership role in addressing childhood obesity. Read more about Goya’s commitment to support Let’s Move!.

Jessica Larson works at the Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships