Kids keeping it healthy
Kids in Coeur d’Alene have an advantage when it comes to getting on track for a healthy life.
They live in one of just 61 cities nationwide where a campaign to reduce obesity among children has earned gold-medal status.
The “Let’s Move! CDA” initiative — part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” effort — was localized in Coeur d’Alene in 2014, but didn’t begin gaining momentum until February 2015.
"The initial 'Let's Move' campaign has five goals as objectives to meet in order to combat obesity, and that is by implementing physical activity and nutrition communitywide," said Erin Whitehead, Idaho physical activity and nutrition program coordinator for Panhandle Health District. "And I am very proud to say that we have gold in all five gold-medal areas.”
The local campaign is a city-endorsed initiative coordinated by Panhandle Health District in partnership with organizations such as the Coeur d'Alene Parks and Recreation Department and the Coeur d'Alene School District.
About 30 representatives from the “Let’s Move! CDA” community partner groups gathered at City Hall last week to celebrate the achievement that many of them had taken part in. Awards were handed out by Whitehead to each organization most committed to the individual goals.
The first award was given to the city of Coeur d'Alene's Child Care Commission for playing a role in the first goal on the list — "Start Early, Start Smart." This goal was designed to introduce physical activity and nutrition into early education programs.
Three awards were handed to the Parks and Recreation Department for mapping routes to city parks and walking trails, and for writing up contracts with city food venues to encourage healthy eating.
The three awards accepted by Adam Rouse, recreation coordinator for Parks and Recreation, were in accordance with goals two, four and five. The second goal on the list is "My Plate, Your Place," which aims at displaying "My Plate" in all municipal or county venues where food is served. The fourth goal is "Model Food Service," which is typically geared more toward schools. The fifth goal, "Active Kids at Play," was designed to increase physical activity by mapping playgrounds, parks and trail systems.
The "My Plate" initiative is sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture as a reminder to eat healthy and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Rouse said Parks and Recreation helped achieve the goals in particular by mapping and encouraging "My Plate."
"Like Harbor House, for example," Rouse said, referring to the food concession at McEuen Park. "It was actually put in their contract, which we don't require them because we can't, but we encourage them to offer the 'My Plate' options and display the 'My Plate' logo."
Ed Ducar, director of nutrition services for the Coeur d'Alene School District, accepted the award for the third goal — "Smart Servings for Students."
The Coeur d’Alene Fire Department also participated in the schools, working with Eat Smart Idaho and Shelley Johnson from the University of Idaho Extension in Coeur d'Alene to create a calendar and cards that contain photos of the firefighters and information about each one, such as their favorite fitness activity and favorite healthy food. They also have recipes, one of which is "Peanut Butter and Jelly Sushi Rolls." Ducar said it has been very popular among the students.
"The nice part about this with the 'Let's Move' is, everybody was doinggood things in the city, but we weren't sharing," Ducar said. "So now we are collaborating in order to be able to do these things. We are all in this together."
While they have achieved gold-medal status, Whitehead said they are not done yet. She and the others would like to achieve "All-Star Status," which requires working on eight strategies that she said are less defined than the original goals. Whitehead said they will focus on the first three initially, including making the community more bicycle friendly, encouraging walking and enhancing "slow zones" near school, parks and recreation centers.
Panhandle Health District will present the achievements and new goals to the Coeur d'Alene City Council on Feb. 2, in hopes of gaining support to make Coeur d'Alene an "All-Star" city.
"We take a lot of pride in being a healthy, outdoor community," Collett said. "We have such a beautiful place we live in, so we might as well make it the most accessible for everybody to be able to be healthy and nutritious."