| Animated
character Bobby B., and The Arizona Nutrition Network (AzNN) want Arizona
residents to “Get stronger with green; you’ll see what I mean” and “Get
ahead by eating red,” as they launch the new ‘5 A Day The Color Way’
campaign. The campaign will generate public awareness for the importance of
eating at least five fruits and vegetables daily from a rainbow of foods.
The new AzNN campaign
stresses the important nutrients left out as a result of eating only one or
two colors of fruits and vegetables. Consuming a colorful variety of fruits
and vegetables such as yellow squash, blueberries, green artichokes and pink
grapefruit can help fight heart disease and cancer, protect the eyes, enhance
the immune system, and control weight. Despite the many health benefits of
fruit and vegetables, numbers for produce consumption are down and obesity is
on the rise, according to the Produce for Better Health Foundation.
“Adding a myriad of
different colored fruits and vegetables to the current 5 A Day program is a
simple way to increase overall health,” says Margaret Tate, M.S., R.D., with
the Office of Nutrition and Chronic Disease Prevention Services. “Nutritional
research has proven that colorful fruits and vegetables contain essential
vitamins, minerals and fiber, which benefit the body from head to toe.”
During September, AzNN will
celebrate National 5 A Day month as part of a nationwide effort to get and
keep Americans healthy through the consumption of at least five fruits and
vegetables daily. As concerns grow about obesity, diabetes, heart disease,
Alzheimer’s and other health issues, the fruit and vegetable connection
becomes critical, according to AzNN health officials.
The new 5 A Day campaign,
which targets young children and food stamp eligible mothers ages 18 and
older, incorporates Bobby B. who encourages kids and their parents to “Get
up and go with orange and yellow” in an effort to eat 5 A Day of colorful
fruits and vegetables. Bobby B. also tells kids to, “Take it from me Bobby
B.” and “Color yourself healthy,” as part of a statewide goal to make
eating fruits and vegetables just as enjoyable as painting on a canvas or
putting together a puzzle.
The campaign includes a
television commercial, a radio commercial, posters, recipe cards and other
materials encouraging the consumption of at least five fruits and veggies
daily-the colorful varieties. The radio and television commercials will air in
English and Spanish.
AzNN, a public and private
partnership led by the Arizona Department of Health Services’ Office of
Nutrition with the Department of Economic Security, Family Assistance
Administration, delivers common nutrition messages to low-income families
throughout the state. For more information, contact 1-800-695-3335 or go
online to www.eatwellbewell.org. |
