Check out our interactive blog containing news about the borough-wide SSB free movement happening in the Bronx, as well as other projects within NYC and around the country.
Bronx Health REACH and its partners Union Community Health Center (UCHC) and the New York Community (NYC) Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Bronx Neighborhood Health Action Center (BxNHAC) have been co-leading a borough-wide initiative, known as the Healthy Beverage Zone (HBZ), that aims to make water and other healthy beverages more accessible. Please click here for more information: Bronx Healthy Beverage Zone: A Borough-Wide Movement The Institute for Family Health
For P.S. X811, the reality is that many students and staff members are managing health conditions ranging in severity that could be improved with dietary changes. The majority of students at P.S. X811 are considered high-risk because they rely on family members and/or guardians to provide for their dietary needs and many have mental and physical disabilities. In addition to the personal health challenges, there are also environmental challenges, where fast food establishments and bodegas are the main source for food and groceries but offer limited amounts of healthy options. Sandy Helms, career development and occupational studies teacher, and Paula Lucas, administrative assistant to the principal at P.S. X811 in the South Bronx are leading the charge to impact their school through one small change; dropping sugary beverages and drinking more water. Their commitment to health is what led them to become one of the newest Healthy Beverage Zone partners. Through the school garden, school officials were able to open a community farm stand where Helms and Lucas met leaders from the Bronx Neighborhood Health Action Centers (BNHAC). BNHAC representatives saw great potential in P.S. X811 based on their efforts to improve the health of their students and the community.…
At the start of spring, the eager faces of our borough’s future walked down their school halls ready to not only be part of the Healthy Beverage Zone’s anniversary video, but also take on a new task: pave the way for a healthier community. For the students at M.S. 327, the Comprehensive Model School Project, it was the first time they had tried fruit-infused water. They each curiously took a sip, followed by immediate smiles. “I was not expecting that. Can I take some home to let my mom try?” asked a student. Ambassadors of the Bronx Healthy Beverage Zone (HBZ) gifted each student a fruit-infused bottle and in return, the students unknowingly rewarded the Ambassadors with the best anniversary present. In April, the Bronx HBZ proudly celebrated its one year anniversary. It was one year ago that the HBZ launched its initiative to help Bronx organizations create an environment to inspire co-workers, and their communities, to choose healthier beverage options by ditching sugary drinks. Today, the HBZ has secured almost 50 worksites across the borough who took the pledge to not only rethink their drink, but actively select drinks that encourage a healthier tomorrow. “Setting a positive example for our…
The Bronx, New York has been selected as one of 50 members of the HealthyCommunity50 in the Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge and will receive a $10,000 community seed award. By participating in the Challenge, The Bronx is now in the running to receive a prize of up to $500,000 that will support their local program, the Healthy Beverage Zone (HBZ). The Challenge, a partnership between the Aetna Foundation, the American Public Health Association and the National Association of Counties, will award $1.5 million in prizes to small and mid-sized cities, counties and federally-recognized tribes that are able to show measurable change over the course of several years working with cross-sector partnerships to implement health innovations and data-driven solutions. The HealthyCommunity50 were chosen based on plans to improve the health of their communities in at least one of five domains: healthy behaviors, community safety, built environment (structural), social/economic factors and environmental exposures. Union Community Health Center (UCHC), serving as the lead organization, along with partners of the Bronx’s #Not62 – The Campaign for A Healthy Bronx, came together to form the HBZ, a project that focuses on furthering positive health outcomes throughout the Bronx and decreasing the number of chronic…
Bronx Community Health Network (BCHN) was one of the first organizations to sign on and support the Healthy Beverage Zone project. In 2014, BCHN received a CDC REACH (Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health) grant, which required the organization to focus on obesity prevention campaigns that took into account variables such nutrition and physical activity. “As BCHN was already implementing campaigns throughout the Bronx community to create access to healthier foods and beverages, becoming a Healthy Beverage Zone seemed like natural progression for the organization,” said Michael Hernandez, program manager and policy analyst at Bronx Community Health Network. As an active HBZ partner, here are a few ways BCHN is encouraging their employees to choose healthier beverages: BCHN has worked in tandem with the Department of Health to promote voluntary food and beverage guidelines throughout their organization. They have increased healthier beverage options in vending their machines, at special events and meetings. Staff has been introduced to fruit-infused water recipes. BCHN works with vendors to ensure they offer healthy beverage options. Water is available at all board meetings. Water coolers have been placed generous throughout the organization to create greater access for all employees. “Everyone at BCHN is excited…
Infused water isn’t just delicious, it’s one of the easiest ways to get more nutrients without even really trying. All you have to do is add fruit and water in a pitcher! We all know we should drink more H2O, and infusing is a perfect way to do so. Blueberry, lemon and cucumber Pear, raspberry and rosemary Strawberry and mint Apple and cinnamon Follow UCHC_Bronx on Twitter for updates on the SSB Free Zone and the HBZ project.
Making the choice to drink a healthy beverage over an unhealthy one can dramatically impact our overall health. In fact, the single biggest source of excess calories is what we drink. To minimize the risks of health problems associated with obesity and diabetes, partners of the #Not62 – The Campaign for a Healthy Bronx joined forces to launch the Bronx Healthy Beverage Zone (HBZ) to help organizations create an environment that motivates co-workers, clients and neighbors to ditch sugary beverages and promote healthy drink options. Led by Dr. Vanessa Salcedo, the initiative models Union Community Health Center’s SSB (sugar-sweetened beverage) Free Zone, where one small change has helped the organization in encouraging wellness not only among UCHC’s employees, but their patients as well. Ultimately, the goal of the Bronx HBZ is to champion the borough to take back their health by making healthier beverage choices! The Bronx HBZ project concentrates on furthering positive health outcomes throughout the Bronx and decreasing the number of chronic diseases that Bronxites develop as a result of consuming sugary beverages. How can an organization/business become a Healthy Beverage Zone? Once an organization makes the decision to become Healthy Beverage Zone (HBZ), the HBZ team will…