The Better Bites "Good to Go" Bike
I was nothing short of elated to find out that a program like this existed in Lexington after being introduced to Anita Courtney of the Tweens Nutrition and Fitness Coalition. Being a health-minded individual with a huge interest in educating children and parents about the importance of good, whole foods, I was grateful the project led me to this discovery. Better Bites is focused at integrating wholesome, healthy snacks into kids' lives by the art of placement: if they find snacks that are good for them in the places where they naturally are (schools, concession stands, sporting events, etc.) they will be much more likely to choose them!
Parents, please read on. I encourage you to reach out or get involved with such an empowering and impactful project--this is so important for our youth, especially when you know what they are being fed or offered on menus and in schools. Let's do something about it!
Parents, please read on. I encourage you to reach out or get involved with such an empowering and impactful project--this is so important for our youth, especially when you know what they are being fed or offered on menus and in schools. Let's do something about it!
Information on "Better Bites" can be found below and tons more on their rockin' website that's packed with good stuff; it is SO much more than just the bike program that I helped with today, and targets adults as well as kids.
The program and bike itself are housed at the Plantory behind West 6th Brewery and Smithtown Seafood (two of my favorite places in Lexington--also doing wonderful, earth-friendly, community-driven things every day-love, love, love) where I met some more really great people that help out with it: Jeremy Porter (also with Seedleaf and part of the Tweens Good Neighbor Stores program), Xavia Gantz and interns Alice Tanko and Sandra Onekhena (from the Tweens Nutrition and Fitness Coalition), Reena Martin (of FoodChain), and Will Bunge (of the Urban Ninja Project). Whew, that was a lot of names and great places here in Lexington that I have met/learned about in such a short time!
The program and bike itself are housed at the Plantory behind West 6th Brewery and Smithtown Seafood (two of my favorite places in Lexington--also doing wonderful, earth-friendly, community-driven things every day-love, love, love) where I met some more really great people that help out with it: Jeremy Porter (also with Seedleaf and part of the Tweens Good Neighbor Stores program), Xavia Gantz and interns Alice Tanko and Sandra Onekhena (from the Tweens Nutrition and Fitness Coalition), Reena Martin (of FoodChain), and Will Bunge (of the Urban Ninja Project). Whew, that was a lot of names and great places here in Lexington that I have met/learned about in such a short time!
Simply put, the "bike" resembles an ice-cream truck bicycle but instead holds some delicious and fun snacks for kids in its trailer. It is taken to the nearby bus stop where kids can grab a good snack (they avoid using the word "healthy" which seems to be nothing short of a curse word to kids, as I'm sure we all remember from our childhoods) for free as they get off the bus and walk home or meet their parents.
Today's snack was bananas and a small portion of graham crackers. Fun info cards are handed out to the kids to educate them quickly on why these are good for them (Bananas=potassium!).
Even better, there is always a fun activity to promote movement as well. Today, we had Will from the Urban Ninja Project (yes, there is such a thing here in Lexington. Check it out! to show the kids some fun moves they could do. Unfortunately, things do not always go as planned. Fayette County, due to the ludicrous amount of snow and snow days we received this year, has extended the school day for an extra half hour for the rest of the year. Being slow to realize this fact, we came in from the bus stop to wait the extra 30 minutes. Will was unable to stay, but it was awesome to hear about his project! He will make and adjustment next week for Better Bites.
In the meantime, Reena gave us an AMAZING tour of FoodChain, a nonprofit that provides education and hands-on training for indoor sustainable food production and processing. This would be an entirely new post itself, but seriously--check it out if you haven't. I took so many pictures at this little-known nonprofit that was more like a science center than anything. Fascinating. I might have to share!
After our fun tour was over, it was back to the bus stop! We headed back out and handed the snacks out as the kids got off the bus. They were all excited to get the snacks and were all smiles. Even parents were asking for snacks, and no one was turned down!
As the bus went to leave, it stopped again at the intersection-- all of the rest of the kids on the bus were excited about bananas and graham crackers though it wasn't their bus stop. They politely asked for more if there were leftovers! Of course!
This was a short and sweet project (another on deck for tonight!) but I learned so much about all of the organizations involved and nearby. I wish I had time to get my hands involved in all of them and learn more.
Better Bites - Youth
The Tweens Nutrition and Fitness Coalition, with the help of other groups, brings more nutritionally fitting food to areas that youth gather. These can be churches, restaurants, concession stands, sporting events, etc. The ultimate goal of Better Bites is to find a way into all places that serve food in Lexington offering healthy options. The idea is that, by surrounding kids with healthy foods in all areas of their lives (home and in the school/community), it's all that they will know to eat. If they are surrounded constantly by unhealthy foods, then they will never learn any better about what to put into their bodies. It's also important to bring attention to the disconnect between a locality providing physical activity and also promoting unhealthy eating. Swimming at the pool, which offers hot dogs and ice cream, can completely negate the efforts of the activity itself.
According to Accelerating Progress in Obesity Prevention (2012), an expert report from the Institute of Medicine, increasing access to healthy food is a key strategy for reducing obesity.
Lexington Pools were the first to offer Better Bites here in Lexington.
Check out more on Better Bites on their website. There is an overwhelming amount of wonderful information that I couldn't begin to sum up here. I'm giddy reading about all of the great programs that they are targeting. Again, anyone who knows me, knows how passionate I am about health and wellness-especially when it comes to youth.
According to Accelerating Progress in Obesity Prevention (2012), an expert report from the Institute of Medicine, increasing access to healthy food is a key strategy for reducing obesity.
Lexington Pools were the first to offer Better Bites here in Lexington.
Check out more on Better Bites on their website. There is an overwhelming amount of wonderful information that I couldn't begin to sum up here. I'm giddy reading about all of the great programs that they are targeting. Again, anyone who knows me, knows how passionate I am about health and wellness-especially when it comes to youth.
Better Bites @ Work (for the Adults!)
We all know that us adults need help too! The Kentucky state government has teamed up with the Tweens Nutrition and Fitness Coalition to offer state employees and visitors dependable, healthy options at work with Better Bites at Work. Each menu item has been crafted by expert chefs, certified to meet nutrition standards and taste test approved. Servings are portioned by trained staff and labeled with the Better Bites logo so you always know you are making a healthy, easy choice.
The program has worked its way into Lexington area restaurants as well. It mainly focuses on items that are geared towards kids on the menus-- the Better Bites icon helps to clearly identify these better choices. Restaurants that are full service list at least three items that meet the Better Bites nutrition guidelines, and smaller restaurants feature two. These may be new additions to the menu or ones that happen to already fit the guidelines on the calendar. A dietitian helps make sure the items meet the nutritional specifications and John Foster, Sullivan University culinary expert, provides guidance about making the items delicious and appealing. Click the link for more information.
Check out the Tweens Nutrition Website for so much more on the variety of programs and involvement Better Bites is getting its hands in!
Tweens Nutrition and Fitness Coalition at the Plantory
501 W 6th Street
Suite 250
Lexington KY 40508
Facebook: Better Bites -- Snack Strong
Twitter: Snack Strong
For general information, contact Anita Courtney / Chairperson of the Tweens Nutrition and Fitness Coalition. [email protected]
For information about Good Neighbor Stores, contact Jeremy Porter. [email protected]
For information about Better Bites contact Paige Higginson. [email protected]
501 W 6th Street
Suite 250
Lexington KY 40508
Facebook: Better Bites -- Snack Strong
Twitter: Snack Strong
For general information, contact Anita Courtney / Chairperson of the Tweens Nutrition and Fitness Coalition. [email protected]
For information about Good Neighbor Stores, contact Jeremy Porter. [email protected]
For information about Better Bites contact Paige Higginson. [email protected]