Dietitians of Canada and Kraft Canada recognize five initiatives from across the country with the Speaking of Food and Healthy Living Award
Toronto, Ontario (May 26, 2005) – A celebration of successful healthy living programs took place in Toronto today at the Speaking of Food and Healthy Living Awards, sponsored by Kraft Canada and Dietitians of Canada. Held in connection with the Dietitians of Canada National Conference, the Awards recognized one national and four regional programs for their work in helping Canadians to make healthy food and activity choices. The Alberta-based program M.O.V.E. (Making our Vermilion Energized) was selected as the national award winner for its unique approach to positively influencing Canadian families’ healthy living habits.
M.O.V.E. is a community-based program in Vermilion, Alberta that brings low-cost healthy living programs and ideas to families. Created by Buffalo Trail Public Schools, the program includes low-cost summer camps, open gym nights for families, loonie swim nights, an after-school cooking club and school health fairs. Local parent councils have input into school nutrition policies and teachers have curriculum-appropriate lesson plans for physical activity and healthy eating. In addition, a partnership was formed with the local adult learning organization to provide free classes for parents on budgeting and meal planning for their families.
"Canadians are overwhelmed by information about nutrition and physical activity. This is an excellent opportunity to celebrate a program that is truly making a difference," says Marilynn Small, Manager, Nutrition Communications, Kraft Canada Inc. "And at a time when national obesity rates are at an all time high, this is a great story about a community that has found a way to address the issue locally."
"This award-winning initiative represents a combined effort of schools, parent groups, community organizations and businesses as a way to support healthy living in the local community," says Helen Haresign, VP of Development, Dietitians of Canada. "This ceremony recognizes their efforts and inspires dietitians and others working in this area to take action. Dietitians of Canada is proud to share the good news."
Pamela Drinnan, a registered dietitian with Alberta Milk and a spokesperson for the program, was in attendance to receive the national Award of Excellence and a $2,500 cash prize. "We set out to create a program that would get the whole community moving," says Drinnan. "To be here today in front of hundreds of healthy living experts and be recognized for this program is a great example of what can be accomplished when partnerships are created."
In addition, four regional recipients received Certificates of Merit.
- British Columbia: Cooking for Your Life! (Canadian Diabetes Association, Pacific Area): An interactive cooking class that weaves nutrition education and menu planning together with active living.
- Central and Southern Ontario: Living School (Ophea): A community-driven effort to inspire and support Ontario’s elementary school communities in becoming environments that promote active, healthy living for children and youth.
- Quebec, Northeast and Eastern Ontario: Eat Well, Play Well – Nutrition Month 2004 (Chateauguay Valley High School): A month-long campaign that addressed the need for physical activity programming to be incorporated into nutrition initiatives
- Atlantic: Healthy Kids Club (Grenfell Regional Health Services): A series of after-school initiatives that engage kids in healthy eating and active living programming through a variety of interactive games and activities
The Dietitians of Canada and Kraft Canada Speaking of Food and Healthy Living Award: Excellence in Consumer Communication is designed to encourage and recognize collaborative efforts that help Canadians make informed choices about healthy eating and physical activity. The Speaking of Food and Eating Award was created in 1998 in response to the report Speaking of Food and Healthy Eating: A Consumer Perspective, which indicated that Canadians wanted to eat healthier but were confused by conflicting and difficult-to-apply nutrition messages. This year, the program has been expanded to recognize the importance of both healthy eating and physical activity.
Dietitians of Canada represents 5000 dietitians nation-wide, providing a trusted voice for consumers regarding food and healthy eating. Visit our award winning website at www.dietitians.ca to find more advice on nutrition and healthy eating.
Kraft Foods markets many of the world's leading food brands, including Kraft cheese, Maxwell House and Jacobs coffees, Philadelphia cream cheese, Post cereals and Milka chocolates, in more than 150 countries. Kraft Foods’ ongoing commitment to health and wellness includes the creation of its Worldwide Health & Wellness Advisory Council and numerous global and local programs. For more information, visit www.kraft.com/responsibility. Kraft Foods also makes available extensive healthy lifestyle information and recipes on www.kraftcanada.com and other company web sites, booklets and brochures.
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Contact:
Leslie DePodesta
905-690-1106
ldepodesta@sympatico.ca
Susan Davison
Kraft Canada Inc.
(416) 441-5340
susan.davison@kraft.com