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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

 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. Despite [...]

February 14, 2012 Update: First Step Grants are meant to fund local, short-term projects that support the goals and priorities of Best Start. They are an opportunity for Best Start community members to work together to move their neighborhoods a step closer to meeting Best Start’s goals. The intent of First Step Grants is to [...]

While obesity rates in Los Angeles County’s children age 5 and younger are leveling off or, in some cases, declining, there remains an alarming number of families with young children who are overweight, obese or at risk of becoming so. From 2008 to 2009, the number of obese 3-year-olds held steady at 21 percent, and [...]