News and postings
Immigrants and their Americanized diets
Research shows that when people immigrate to the United States, their diet changes for the worse as they eat more junk food and fewer fruits and vegetables, leading to health problems and obesity. But Brenda Roche doesn’t need to see the studies – she witnesses the transformation of such diets firsthand in the community. “We’ve [...]
Preserving food traditions and cultural heritage
A group of Oaxacan women experienced something that many immigrants in this country face: their children were quickly adapting to an American diet, complete with high-fat fast-food and fewer fruits and vegetables. The women were also concerned that the foods and recipes from their native Mexico would soon be forgotten. Wanting to promote a healthier [...]
Improving access to nutritious foods in South L.A.
For more than 20 years, Community Coalition has been working to change environments that facilitate addiction, violence and poverty in South L.A. Their work has helped to improve the community’s access to healthier foods. The coalition, which was founded in 1990 to address the area’s crack cocaine problem, has worked to shut down about 200 [...]
Homegirl’s farm-to-kitchen program inspires healthy eating
As part of First 5 LA’s Eat Healthy, Grow Strong public education campaign, we’re putting the spotlight on organizations that are working in communities to increase access to healthier foods. By partnering with communities at the grassroots level, they’re hoping to make long-term changes in the way people think about, buy and eat food. For [...]
English Muffin Pizza Cooking Demonstration
As part of our Eat Healthy, Grow Strong campaign, Best Start Public Affairs Officers Katie Kurutz and Freddy Lee demonstrate how to make this simple healthy meal/snack for kids. Check out the the recipe and accompanying video! English Muffin Pizza This is for one serving. For more, simple multiply the amounts by the number you’d [...]
Pacoima and Panorama City are Coming Together to Create Change
This Saturday, March 17, 2011 from 8am to 3pm, the Best Start Pacoima and Panorama City communities will join together for a training conference at Los Angeles Valley College, 5800 Fulton Avenue, Valley Glen, CA 91401. All of their hard work and collaboration has been leading to the creation of the Community Plan, which will [...]
Pacoima Families Rediscover Their Local Food4Less
Grocery shopping is a regular thing for most families, but food choices can sometimes be challenging, especially when there are little ones begging for sugary and fatty snacks. To help families avoid unhealthy pitfalls on a regular grocery run, Best Start has partnered with Network for a Healthy California to provide in-store cooking demonstrations and [...]
Eat Healthy, Grow Strong: Lettuce Wraps
Many thanks to guest blogger justJENN from our parent friendly website readysetgrowla.org for this fun and easy recipe. If you like justJENN’s kid-friendly recipes here, or you like creative cooking, design or geeky things (both kid-related and not) in general, be sure to check out her website http://justjennrecipes.com. These lettuce wraps are full of flavor [...]
Building Demand for Healthy Food
Getting high school youth in South Los Angeles to eat their veggies is no easy task. But thanks to the efforts of Megan Hanson and others, many of these kids are not only eating them, but also gaining skills and experiences to help build healthier food communities. Hanson is the co-founder and executive director of [...]
Food Activists Revolutionize the Way We Eat: Part 2
As part of First 5 LA’s Eat Healthy, Grow Strong public education campaign, we’re putting the spotlight on organizations that are working in communities to increase access to healthier foods. By partnering with communities at the grassroots level, they’re hoping to make long-term changes in the way people think about, buy and eat food. The [...]
