Group B Progress on Healthy Bodega Initiative

Last week we revisited the two bodegas, but we did not take pictures because the owners were not there. However, we took note of the lunch menu offered in one of the bodegas and thought of how it can be changed. We are working on creating fliers, using the tips and methods from last week’s presentation, to address the obesity issue. We are also making a flier to promote the bodega, so when we negotiate with the owners, we show them evidence of how we will help them. Finally, we plan on taking photos during our next visit to the stores.

Update from Group A-Bodega Initiative

Our survey has been approved, so we can move ahead with surveying and after this weeks presentations, we can really start canvassing the campus to make them aware of our project!!! Yay!

Filming will take place during the break as well as a lot of the interaction between the bodega(s) of choice.

Stay tuned...

STATE OF THE PLANET 2010

Guys, there is this live conference currently going on in Columbia University. Its a global discussion on current state of planet earth, and experts are joining from China, UK, Kenya and India. This is a chance to hear these experts put their arguments regarding climate change issues and discuss their proposed recommendations for policies. If you get a chance, please do visit the webcast STATE OF THE PLANET 2010.

Famers Market Group/ Just Food organization

So I spoke to Abby Youngblood from Just Food organization. She told me that a cooking demo is definitely possible in our college. Abby sent me an email with a request form for us to fill out in which we can provide our contact information. The request takes about 3 weeks, therefore if we want the cooking demo around April 22, we should send her the form back as soon as possible. She also told me that the fee for the cooking demo is around 200.00 for a two hour cooking demo. For that amount of time they can give food samples to about 100 people. I think the price is very decent, and if any other group is interested in having them, maybe we should all make one request form. We can request them for 2 or three different cooking demos. Maybe one demo for the bodegas, one for the farmers market, and one for the college cafeteria. However this is all up to Olivia and Jyoti because only they know our project budget. Hopefully tomorrow we can talk a bit more about this.

Health Care Bill Now a LAW

Today, the health care bill was signed in by President Obama as a law. In the bill is a provision for menu labelling of calories right next to the item being sold. The bill will apply to:
1. restaurants [with 20 or more franchises] under FDA regulations
2. foods sold in vending machines

Some foods will be exempt [such as specials being offered less than 60 days on the menu]

Luckily, NY was the first state to pass a calorie count on menus & now customers nationwide will get the opportunity to think twice before choosing a meal.

Stellars Framers Market

Hey Goodnight,

This is some information that I obtained about the Stellars Farmers Market.

It is a program run by the Healths Department's Physical Activity and Nutrition Program.

The Stellars Farmers market programs are held at different farmers markets in New York City.

Each workshop has nutritional information for families, cooking demonstrations using local/ seasonal produce, and there are recipe tastings !!! Each of the participants receive free recipes and free gifts.

This sounds like a great promotional idea for our Farmers Market.


This website offers free simple and easy recipes from apple pancakes to mango chutney. The Just Say Yes to Fruits and Vegetables works in conjugation with the Stellars program. Here is the link to free recipes:
http://www.jsyfruitveggies.org/

Here is a link to the Stellar's Market Pogram : www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/.../healthbucks_stellar.pdf


Enjoy!!!

Update on the Farmers Market Group

Last week our group received the revised surveys and we are planning to hand them out to the people campus as well as the community. Here is a copy of our survey:

Our group's plan so far is to organize a mini event with fruit cart vendors, posters, pamphlets, cooking demos, music in order to help promote the farmers market and sign petitions. All of this we are aiming towards the month of April. In order to help with the cooking demos and the promotion of the farmers market event we will be contacting East Harlem District Health Office regarding the Help Bucks and also Just Food, Stellar's Farmers Market and Nourishing Kitchens of America in order to request free demos of food recipes at our location of the farmer market possibly.

If you guys have the time, please answer our surveys as well! It will be greatly appreciated!