Stop & Shop Holds ‘Healthy Kids Summit’ at Fenway Park
The Stop & Shop Supermarket Co. LLC presented a “Healthy Kids Summit” this week at Fenway Park in Boston, aided by such local community experts as Red Sox left fielder Daniel Nava; the YMCA of Greater Boston; The Hood "Answer Mom"; and the Boston Public Health Commission. The free July 17 event, which drew more than 200 attendees, educated parents, caregivers and children on the nutrition and exercise information necessary to make healthier life choices.
Nava (left) shared tips on how he and his teammates stay healthy and fit both on and off the field. Before a big game, for instance, the ballplayer fuels up on protein, fruit with honey, and lots of water to hydrate. To maintain strength and recover after a workout, Nava and the his teammates enjoy foods from all areas of USDA’s MyPlate, including salmon, chicken and vegetables.
In April of this year, when Mayor Thomas M. Menino launched “Boston Moves for Health,” a program to improve the city’s health and wellness by boosting access to free and low-cost physical activities and healthy living resources, he noted that half of adults and one in three schoolkids in Boston are either overweight or obese. Events such as the summit aim to encourage area children and families to stay healthy and active this summer.
“For many families, healthy eating habits begin at home, which is why Stop & Shop is continuously seeking ways to positively impact the well-being of the people in the communities in which we serve,” explained the grocer’s New England division spokeswoman, Suzi Robinson. “We are committed to helping our customers make beneficial decisions while shopping.”
The Healthy Kids Summit featured a brief, interactive 30-minute panel discussion led by community leaders and experts, among them Nava; Joann Donnelly, executive director of healthy living for the YMCA of Greater Boston; Elizabeth M. Ward, M.S., R.D., who appeared in her capacity as The Hood “Answer Mom,” on behalf of the New England Dairy Promotion Board; Huy Nguyen, M.D., medical director for the Boston Public Health Commission; and Julie Menounos, MS, RD, LD-N, in-store nutritionist at the Stop & Shop store in Chelmsford, Mass., who acted as moderator.
During the panel discussion, the audience was asked to show its knowledge and memory skills with a short trivia game incorporating key facts on nutrition, exercise, a balanced lifestyle and easy ways to stay fit. After the trivia came an energetic Zumba workout led by Monique Rogers from the YMCA of Greater Boston, and a health fair.
A division of Ahold USA, Quincy, Mass.-based Stop & Shop employs about 62,000 associates and operates more than 400 stores in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, New York, and New Jersey.