News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION, August 27, 2011 CONTACT: Dee Inthamat Director of Media Relations (312) 555-1234 deawbby@hotmail.com

Columbia College students are having a healthy barbeque party.

CHICAGO- Students United for Healthy Eating is hosting its first barbeque party on

Saturday at Mary Richardson Jones Park in Chicago's Near South Side neighborhood.

They are not partying this time, but encouraged by Michelle Obama's 'Let's Move'

program to encourage healthy eating and focus on the problem of food deserts. The

campaign also hopes to inspire other organizations to create similar programs in their

areas and to get more large grocery stores that sell healthy food to open in areas of the

city considered to be food deserts.

The Healthy Eating Campaign is partnering with Peapod, an online grocery

shopping and delivery service and Weber Grills, a unique and exciting restaurant

featuring and open kitchen who have provided healthy fresh foods and supplies for the

barbeque. Food served included grilled zucchini, squash, asparagus, peppers, and

mushrooms; eco-friendly tilapia and Asian sea bass; chicken breasts and turkey burgers,

plus a selection of grilled and uncooked pineapple slices, pears and peaches.

"I hope this barbeque party will attract other businesses to help local

neighborhoods that are considered as a food desert zone," said Brubaker.

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FOOD DESERT - page 2

Food deserts are usually low-income urban areas that don't have access to fresh

fruits, vegetables and healthy foods but do have lots of convenience stores and fast food

restaurants. The residents in these areas consume more "junk food" because healthy foods

are either too expensive or hard to find without traveling long distances.

The residents of food deserts tend to suffer worse diet-related health outcomes.

Mary-Jo Sawyer, a registered dietitian at VCU Medical Center, Richmond, VA said,

"People who don't have access to fresh fruits and vegetables at grocery stores tend to

purchase the least-expensive items at smaller markets, which are typically high in fat and

sodium- like hot dogs. These choices can lead to obesity, high blood pressure and heart

disease."

"Michelle Obama's 'Let's Move' program inspired us to create the Healthy Eating

campaign," said Brubaker. ‘Let's Move’ a nationwide initiative to promote making

healthy choices, improving food quality in schools, increasing access to healthy,

affordable food, and increasing physical activity.

"I hope this barbeque party will inspire other college's organizations to create

similar event," said Brubaker. The campaign believed the event was a successful project

to help the community start eating healthy.

Student United for Healthy Eating is an organization that promotes the benefits of

healthy diet- including fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, and lean meats rather than relying too

much on processed and fast food. For further information, visit www.colum.edu/health

eating.

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