News in Steps
Healthy Choices Restaurants Program
On August 12th we will launch the Healthy Choices Restaurants Program. The Healthy Choices Restaurants Program was initiated by the collaboration of Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco County Health Departments to help consumers to identify local restaurants that offer “Cook to Order” or “Take ½ Home” options. So next time you go out to a local restaurant look for our logo in their window to see if they support healthy eating.
Healthy Choices Restaurants Program
Step Up to the Plate!
In response to the growing interest of healthier lifestyles and customer needs and desires regarding healthier dining Steps to a Healthier Hillsborough County has joined with Pinellas and Pasco County Health Departments to introduce the Healthy Choices Restaurant Program. This helps consumers identify local restaurants that offer sensible solutions to our population’s ever-increasing waistline by offering “Take Half Home” or “Cook to Order” options. Member restaurants display the Healthy Choices Restaurant decal in their window, so look for the logo to know if your favorite restaurant is leading the effort to make a difference in the health of our community.
Community Partner Highlight
In efforts to increase access to physical activity for the under-served, Steps partnered with the YMCA to bring exercises, as well as nutrition and weight reduction education into churches, with some remarkable successes. One worth sharing is that of the 34th Street Church of God, where a certified wellness instructor teaches the classes while training a church-member to lead the group for sustainability purposes. The group has established a support system that facilitates for them to meet twice a week for exercise and walking in a nearby park. In a six-weeks follow-up 11 of the 14 participants have attended 4 or more sessions. In addition, 6 of the participants have lost weight (16.6 lbs. total), all (100%) of the weight lost was among people who participated in 5 or 6 of the sessions.
