Posted by Dr. Robert Post on August 3, 2012
As we watch and are inspired by Team USA's 2012 Olympic results in London, we can all take a cue from our team and strive to live a little more like athletes ourselves. A nutritious diet and regular physical activity are the building blocks to peak performance. This summer, MyPlate and Let’s Move! are encouraging Americans to make healthier eating choices and include physical activity into their daily routine to support Team USA and celebrate the Olympic Games.
ChooseMyPlate.gov can help answer your questions about nutrition, weight management, physical activity, food safety, and building healthier meals. The website can help you make daily food decisions by providing information about food groups and portions sizes, and offering simple recipes that reflect the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 recommendations. We encourage you to check out the 10 Tips Nutrition Education Series. Topics include “Eating Better on a Budget,” “Healthy Eating for Vegetarians,” and many more.
Posted by Adam Keyes on August 2, 2012
Ed. Note: This article is a cross post from USDA's Blog
With gas prices on the rise and the trip to the nearest large grocery store clocking in at 50 miles, Mark Platten realized an opportunity much closer to home. Platten, the Colorado State University Extension Director for Teller County, began brainstorming and came up with the idea for a program that would engage young people in gardening, put fresh food on the table, and facilitate community service opportunities in the town of Cripple Creek, Colorado – a small town situated in the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of 9,500.
Posted by Jessica Larson on August 1, 2012
Ed. Note: This article is a cross post from USDA's Blog
The Louisiana State 4-H Food and Fitness Camp is joining the Let’s Move! initiative to combat childhood obesity through improved nutrition and increased physical activity. As a camp for fourth and fifth graders designed and run by high school 4-H teens, the program motivates campers to eat healthier and move more.
This year, the 4-H Food and Fitness Camp incorporated a jungle safari-themed experience, showing campers that eating right and exercising can be fun! Dressed in wild animal costumes and surrounded by fake vines, the campers and counselors played games and learned about nutrition.
Posted by Kasie Coccaro on August 1, 2012
While First Lady Michelle Obama was in London leading the U.S. Delegation to the 2012 Olympic Games, communities back at home showed their support for Team USA by dancing, jumping and running their way to a healthier lifestyle. Thousands of people from nearly all 50 states got together to celebrate Let’s Move! Olympic Fun Day on Saturday, July 28th by getting active and having fun. From tug-of-war in Eagle, Wisconsin to badminton in Porterville, CA and from soccer in New York City to relay races in Cornish, ME, we were thrilled by the response!
We hope all the fun and activity inspires your family and community to get moving too! And even though our Olympic Fun Day has passed, you can join or host a Let's Move! Meetup in your community year-round.
Have a look at some of the coverage, stories, photos and tweets from events that took place around the country:
