There is a movement underway in Northeast Iowa..
The Northeast Iowa Food & Fitness Initiative is about people working together to create vibrant communities where the healthy choice is the easy choice.
The healthy choice means that every day all people in NE Iowa have access to healthy, locally grown foods and abundant opportunities for physical activity and play.
Food and fitness is important because no matter where we are, the places where we live, learn, work and play affect our health and quality of life.
Opportunities to be active and play don’t exist in every community. Some communities have fewer resources and opportunities.
We believe all children deserve to grow up in places that support being healthy. Yet, today’s children belong to the first generation with a lower life expectancy than their parents.
For our children to grow up in communities and schools that support being healthy, we must change our food system. The average food item travels over 1500 miles, even though most of our food could be grown and sold right here? Only one percent of the food consumed in NE Iowa is grown locally.
For the past two years, the Northeast Iowa Food & Fitness Initiative has assessed our access to food and places to be active and play. Over 500 people in Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek counties have been involved in some way.
We are one of nine projects nationwide supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to be models of change.
Our Strategies . . .
Ensure that school district policies & practices support healthy living of children, families and community members.
Ensure that fresh, local, healthy food is available and affordable in all communities, neighborhoods and institutions.
Ensure that communities have a built environment that supports abundant opportunities for physical activity and play.
Visit www.iowafoodandfitness.org to learn more.
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11/9/2009