The Centers for Disease Control reports that about 66 percent of adults in the United States are considered overweight or obese. About 20 percent of children aged 2 to 19 years old are considered to be overweight or obese, as well. In response to the growing epidemic of obesity in the United States today, healthy food initiatives have been developed to help change the way people see and eat food. The joint initiative between Wal-Mart stores and First Lady Michelle Obama in 2011 is one of the most notable healthy food initiatives in history.
First Lady's Let's Move! Campaign
First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! Is a campaign designed to change the way Americans approach their health. Created in response to the epidemic of obesity in the United States, the focus of this initiative is to reform American eating habits and encourage physical activity. This initiative focuses on informing parents about healthy eating and exercise habits and cutting off the risk of obesity before children become adults. Another important part of this initiative is also making improvements to the health quality of school lunches, and making food more affordable for everyone without sacrificing health quality.
The Let's Move! Campaign is an ongoing campaign that is supported by the federal government to reduce the percentage of overweight Americans over time.
Wal-Mart Healthy Food Initiative
As the largest grocery chain in the United States, Wal-Mart stores serve more than 140 million shoppers every week. Its healthy food initiative aims to make its store brands healthier over time while still striving to make healthy food more affordable for everyone. Food Safety News reports that Wal-Mart's objectives are to reduce the sugar content of the brand by 10 percent. It will also look to eliminate trans fats and reduce the sodium content in the store brand by 25 percent. As the leader in the industry, other large-scale grocery chains are also expected to jump on board with these changes.
As part of this healthy food initiative, Wal-Mart stores also pledged to slowly reduce the cost of fresh produce in stores, and has promised to do so by taking advantage of local farmers who are cheaper to use, a move that stands to benefit everyone involved.
The Wal-Mart and Let's Move! Partnership
The goals of the Let's Move initiative and the Wal-Mart healthy eating initiative are very similar. For this reason, Michelle Obama has lent her support to this healthy eating overhaul by the grocery giant. This partnership will hold the grocery chain accountable for its actions, facilitate regular progress reports to the public, and help to get the word out about these and similar initiatives.
Instituting Your Own Healthy Eating Initiative
You can start your own healthy eating initiative at home simply by making a few changes to your grocery list. Opt for whole wheat breads and pastas instead of the bleached white version. Stock up on frozen vegetables, as they retain much of the freshness they had when they were frozen. Pick up fresh vegetables for dinner every now and again. Opt for lean meats like turkey, chicken and fish for dinner every night. Get your children involved with exploring new, healthier foods, as it will make them more cooperative at the dinner table. Eliminate sugary snacks, or keep them to a minimum. A few small changes to your grocery list can make a big difference in the health of your family in the future.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: FastStats--Overweight
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity Among Adults: United States, 2003-2004
- Food Safety News: Wal-Mart Unveils Healthy Food Inititiative
- ABC News: Michelle Obama's Childhood Obesity Initiative
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