Colorado nutrition program teaches gardening to get kids to eat veggies

A nutrition assistance program in Colorado is working to increase the amount of fruits and vegetables in children’s diets by teaching them more about gardening, according to a news release from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

The statewide program, called “Cooking up Healthy Options with Plants, launched in March in child care centers and homes supported by the Colorado Child and Adult Food Care Program, a health department program that provides nutrition assistance and education to care programs serving low-income Coloradans.

“The CHOP program provides children experience in growing their own food,” said Tanya O’Connor, nutrition consultant for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. “Gardening will help these children experience the wonder and bounty of nature while developing healthy eating habits for a lifetime.”

The CHOP program aims to teach children the behaviors that lead to a healthier lifestyle. In Jefferson County, 92 percent of children consume less than the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables each day. One of every three Jefferson County adults consumes less than one serving of fruit each day.

To change this, the CHOP program includes gardening to its nutrition curriculum and encourages participating day care centers and homes to plant gardens.

Learn more about the program here: Cooking up Healthy Options with Plants.

The Jefferson County Food Policy Council aims to increase equitable access to healthy, local and affordable food and support a sustainable community food system. To learn more about the council or become a member, go to http://www.healthyjeffco.com/foodaccess.

To learn more about WIC, which provides supplemental nutrition to families in Jefferson County, go to http://jeffco.us/public-health/healthy-families/women-infants-and-children/

Jefferson County Public Health Applauds CVS Caremark’s Decision to Discontinue Sales of Tobacco Products at all CVS/Pharmacy Locations

CVS Caremark, the largest integrated pharmacy company in the United States, announced on February 5, 2014 that it will discontinue the sales of all tobacco products in its more than 7,600 stores starting October 1, 2014. This is the first national pharmacy chain to take this important step that will significantly benefit the health of our populations nationwide. Larry J. Merlo, President and CEO of CVS Caremark, was quoted in the company’s news release saying, "Ending the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products at CVS/pharmacy is the right thing for us to do for our customers and our company to help people on their path to better health. Put simply, the sale of tobacco products is inconsistent with our purpose."

Jefferson County Public Health applauds CVS Caremark for recognizing the enormous burden that tobacco places on our nation, communities, and loved ones and for taking a bold stand for public health despite the financial losses they may incur. Per the company’s news release, it is estimated that it will lose approximately $2 billion in revenues on an annual basis from the tobacco shopper.

>> Read full JCPH news release.