The Hispanic Health Council (HHC), a Hartford-based nonprofit aiming to improve the health and social well-being of Latinos and other diverse communities, is celebrating National Nutrition Month throughout March. This month’s programs are led by the HHC Community Nutrition Department, which includes the Program to increase Access to good Nutrition and Active life (PANA) and the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
As part of the celebration of National Nutrition Month, the HHC SNAP-Ed PANA Program is conducting different activities throughout the upcoming week. During the week of March 21st from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., HHC will be offering a nutritional information stand in the lobby of the Hispanic Health Council main building at 175 Main Street in Hartford, CT. During this time, HHC will also be offering blood pressure readings and will be answering nutrition-related questions from the general public and dishes.
To celebrate National Nutrition Month, the Hispanic Health Council is also presenting “The World of Flavors” from Latin America and other cultural cuisines around the world. The HHC encourages the community to eat healthy foods by celebrating the diversity of flavors from all Latin American and Caribbean cultures and eating and enjoying a variety of food.
“During National Nutrition Month and throughout the year, we hope that Latino community members will be able to learn that eating a nutritious diet can be fun, affordable, and accessible.”, says Sofia Segura-Perez, Chief Program Officer of the Hispanic Health Council. “Most importantly, we hope community members will learn they can still connect to their culture and others while participating in a healthy lifestyle.”
HHC encourages community members to utilize My Plate, a dietary guideline suggested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, when planning meals. My Plate and HHC recommend that at least half your plate should be fruits and vegetables. Protein sources should be varied by eating fish, seafood, lean meats and vegetable protein from beans, lentils, and other legumes. Remember to eat at least half of your grain as whole grains and choose non-fat or low-fat fairy products. Lastly, drink plenty of water and avoid foods with added sugars and sodium.
Being mindful of nutritional intake is crucial, especially for the Latino and Hispanic communities, as well as other communities of color. According to America’s Health Rankings, only 11.3% of the Connecticut Hispanic population and 6.5% of the Connecticut Black population reported consuming two or more fruits and three or more vegetables daily. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is key for the prevention of chronic diseases and helps with maintaining a healthy weight.
In addition to the programs offered for National Nutrition Month, the Hispanic Health Council also offers community nutrition programs throughout the year, including, group presentation workshops, youth education programs like puppet shows and quiz show games, partnership with Holcomb Farm and the Hartford Mobile Market. Programs are offered in both Spanish and English.
For more information about the campaign, visit www.hispanichealthcouncil.org/
