Now that time has started to heal the wounds of many Pittsburgh fans we thought it would be a good time to highlight some of the work we did around Super Bowl XLV. USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) staff got to participate in Fiesta de Salud (Celebration of Health) — a community fair sponsored by the League of United Latin American Citizen (LULAC) and the National Football League (NFL) in Dallas, Texas. Fiesta de Salud was one of many NFL events planned during the week leading up to Super Bowl XLV which helped promote the NFL’s anti-childhood obesity program “Play 60.”
In 2010, USDA partnered with the NFL and the National Dairy Foundation to promote Fuel Up to Play 60, an interactive program that allows students to decide how to make their school an even healthier place. Ideas and plans are put into action to help everyone eat healthy and get active. Students are challenged and have an opportunity to earn prizes.
During Fiesta de Salud, children learned about MyPyramid for kids, and parents were given healthy recipe books in English and Spanish produced by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Zumba classes and football scrimmages were held on the grounds of Mountain View College Sports Complex which hosted Fiesta de Salud’s health fair.
“Fiesta de Salud brought together the Latino community, public health professionals, local businesses, instructors, and key community leaders to underscore the importance of incorporating health, nutrition and fitness into the lives of Dallas’ Latinos,” said Ray de los Santos, LULAC’s National Education Service Center director for Dallas. “I want to thank the USDA Food and Nutrition Service for being a part of this event.”
FNS employees Edward Mekeel, Yolanda Gracia and I enjoyed great weather, good physical activity and excellent networking with resourceful advocates in the Hispanic community that will help with future outreach.
