LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - Sep 12, 2011) - The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health's RENEW LA County initiative is helping families eat right and get healthy this fall with the release of a new video series showing how to make nutritious and tasty meals using MyPlate, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's symbol for healthy eating. Making healthier food choices is one of the best ways to get set for success when starting a new school year or heading back to work after summer vacation. A healthy diet can greatly improve physical, mental and emotional health, providing more energy to take on tasks. For youth especially, studies show that students who eat nutritious, well-balanced meals have longer attention spans and higher test scores.
The MyPlate videos help viewers understand how to add more whole grains, fruits, vegetables and lean proteins into their diet while reducing fat, sodium and sugar. The seven one-minute videos feature Suzanne Bogert, a registered dietitian and project director of RENEW LA County, as she explains how to cook up quick and healthy breakfasts, lunches and dinners by following the MyPlate recommendations.
The video series is one component of RENEW LA County's ongoing efforts to improve nutrition and reduce obesity in LA County, where more than 58 percent of adults are overweight or obese and obesity prevalence among school-aged children is approximately 23 percent. Maintaining a healthy diet can help reduce the risk of obesity and associated health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
"LA County residents want to be healthy and eat right, and this is a way to empower them with resources to make healthier choices," said Dr. Paul Simon, MD, MPH, director of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. "The videos demonstrate how residents can use MyPlate to make sense of healthy eating and provide simple guidelines that take the guessing out of a balanced diet."
Videos and recipes include a breakfast scramble, breakfast sandwich, chicken pasta, a burger, grilled fish, a tuna pita and a turkey sandwich. The series is on Choose Health LA's YouTube channel and is available to share and embed across the Web.
For more information on healthy eating in Los Angeles County, connect with Choose Health LA online, which represents all of the public health efforts of RENEW LA County. Visit Choose Health LA on Twitter @ChooseHealthLA, on Facebook and at ChooseHealthLA.com.
About RENEW LA County
The LA County Department of Public Health's RENEW (Renew Environments for Nutrition, Exercise and Wellness) initiative seeks to improve nutrition, increase physical activity and reduce obesity in LA County. RENEW LA County is made possible by a grant from the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Communities Putting Prevention to Work initiative.
About LA County Department of Public Health
The LA County Department of Public Health is committed to protecting and improving the health of the nearly 10 million residents of Los Angeles County. Through a variety of programs, community partnerships and services, Public Health oversees environmental health, disease control, and community and family health. Public Health comprises more than 4,000 employees and an annual budget exceeding $750 million. To learn more about Public Health, visit publichealth.lacounty.gov, visit the YouTube channel at youtube.com/lapublichealth, find Public Health on Facebook at facebook.com/lapublichealth, or follow Public Health on Twitter: LAPublicHealth.