TULSA, OK – [October 17, 2013] – The Tulsa Health Department in conjunction with the Tulsa County Wellness Partnership and the Tulsa Food Security Council will host the 2nd annual Food Glorious Food Day: Growing Healthy Kids on Saturday, October 19, from 12 to 3 p.m. at the North Regional Health and Wellness Center, 5635 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The event is free and open to the public. Activities will include kid-friendly cooking and gardening demonstrations, games and prizes and a photo booth.
Food Glorious Food is held in observance of Food Day, a nationwide celebration of healthy, affordable, and sustainably produced food, and a grassroots campaign for better food policies.
The organizers of the local event hope that Food Day motivates kids and their families to learn more about local produce, obesity and food access issues.
“Food Day presents a great opportunity for children and families in our community to learn more about how to make healthy food choices,” said Katie Plohocky, chair of the Tulsa Food Security Council and the event’s coordinator. “Making the healthy choice the easy choice can be tough because access to fresh and affordable produce is severely limited in many parts of Tulsa.”
Food Day events nationwide will focus on food education as a way to improve diets, address obesity, and other health issues, starting with schools and campuses.
“It is important that children understand the story of their food: where it comes from, how it was produced, and what it means for personal and public health,” said Dr. Bruce Dart, Tulsa Health Department director. “Equipping children with food and nutrition education—in the kitchen and in the classroom—will empower them with lifelong skills.”
Research on food education has demonstrated that:
Knowledge about food and nutrition increases children’s fruit and vegetable consumption
Cooking and preparing fresh foods enhances children’s appreciation for healthier and diverse foods.
Planting and harvesting fruits and vegetable motivates children to also eat them.
Food Day serves a catalyst for healthier diets and a better food system. The event is nationally observed on October 24 each year. In 2012, more than 3,200 events took place nationwide from community festivals in Denver, Savannah, and New York City, to a national conference in Washington, DC, to thousands of school activities in Portland, Minneapolis, and elsewhere. Community residents, schools, and faith-based groups can participate by hosting an event. The complete list of registered events can be found here at www.foodday.org/events.
Tulsa Health Department
Since its establishment in 1950, the Tulsa Health Department serves as the primary public health agency to more than 600,000 Tulsa County residents, including 13 municipalities and four unincorporated areas. THD’s mission is to sustain an equitable system that prevents disease, promotes healthy living, and ensures preparedness. The agency is dedicated to empowering citizens to make healthy choices that carry forward for future generations. THD was among the first health departments in the U.S. to receive national accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board.
Tulsa County Wellness Partnership
The Tulsa County Wellness Partnership is a sponsored group of the Family Health Coalition and is dedicated to changing policy and environments in Tulsa County to make healthy nutrition and fitness the easy choice in schools, workplaces and communities. TCWP advocates for policies and projects that promote healthy eating and active living, such as community gardens and farmer’s markets.
Tulsa Food Security Council
The Tulsa Food Security Council brings together all who share an interest in improving local food security and creating access to healthy eating opportunities and resources in Tulsa County.
