Healthier Food Options Are Just Around the Corner

September 17th, 2007

Healthier Food Options Are Just Around the Corner
Steps to a Healthier New Orleans Launches Healthy Food Promotion Initiative with
13 Local Corner Stores

This morning, Steps to a Healthier New Orleans (Steps), an affiliated program of the Louisiana Public Health Institute in partnership with the City of New Orleans, hosted a press conference to launch its new healthy foods promotion corner store initiative at Doras Supermarket in the Bywater. As part of Steps mission to help New Orleanians reduce their risk of diabetes and obesity by adopting healthier eating habits, the Steps program has partnered with 13 local corner stores to stock and promote the purchase of healthy food choices including fresh fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy and/or whole grain products.
Speakers at the event included Dr. Sandra Robinson, Deputy Director of the New Orleans Health Department, Dr. Amita Toprani, Director of the Steps program and Linda Khaleileh, owner of Doras Supermarket. Following hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans area lost 21 of 36 major supermarkets, a situation that forced many residents to do their grocery shopping at corner stores stores that traditionally dont stock or promote many fresh, healthy food options. Partnering with local businesses to offer and promote healthy foods is a great step toward creating a healthy community environment. Through the corner store initiative, we are trying to make the healthy choice an easy choice, says Dr. Amita Toprani, director of the Steps program.
The new Steps corner store initiative is based in part on successful corner store programs developed by The Steps to a Healthier Rockland County, New York program and the Philadelphia Food Trust. To date, the Steps program has partnered with 13 stores citywide including Doras Supermarket, Calhoun Superette, Worlds Healthiest Pizza, Jerrys Grocery, Sopranos Meat Market, Magnolia Supermarket, Terranova Supermarket, A&Js Mart, Lucys Supermarket, Zara Little Giant Supermarket, Archit Discount Store and Zaras Supermarket.
Studies conducted in 2006 reveal that more than 22 percent of New Orleans residents are obese and 33 percent are overweight, putting them at greater risk for (adult onset) type 2 diabetes. In addition to the regular aging process, factors found to increase risk of type 2 diabetes include high-fat diets and less active lifestyles. Walking and exercising more combined with adopting healthier eating habits that include eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, low fat dairy products and whole grains can greatly reduce ones risk of becoming obese and developing type 2 diabetes, says Dr. Sandra Robinson, Deputy Director of the City of New Orleans Health Department.
As a part of a suite of activities designed to promote healthier eating habits, the Steps program launched a radio and television advertising campaign earlier this month featuring original poetry by local spoken word artists that addresses the dangers of junk food and the benefits of adopting healthier eating habits. Additionally, the Steps program has created a resource tool kit for New Orleans area K-12 schools that contains detailed information regarding the Physical Education Act (Act 734), The Louisiana Smoke-Free Air Act (Act 815) and the Healthy Vending Act (Act 331).
For the locations of participating stores or to learn how to become a participant in the healthy foods promotion initiative and to learn more about the Steps program, visit www.Stepsla.org or call (504) 301-9800.

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About Steps to a Healthier New Orleans (Steps):

Steps to a Healthier New Orleans was launched in 2003 as a 5-year cooperative endeavor between the City of New Orleans Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The program seeks to increase physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption throughout the New Orleans population by implementing community and school based outreach activities that focus on reducing the burden of diabetes, asthma and obesity. For more information about Steps, or to get involved, call (504) 301-9800, or visit www.stepsla.org.
Steps to a HealthierUS:

Steps to a HealthierUS is a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) initiative advancing the HealthierUS goal to help Americans live longer, better and healthier lives. This initiative will reduce the burden of chronic diseases including diabetes, obesity and asthma through the control of risk factors including poor nutrition, physical inactivity, and tobacco use and exposure. For more information about Steps to a HealthierUS, please visit www.healthierus.gov/steps