Official insights from Public Health – Seattle & King County staff
June 7 marks the opening of the Auburn Farmers Market. This year, building on last summer’s success, the market will continue to bring more affordable healthy food to residents. Last summer, with the help of Washington Community Action Network (Washington CAN!), community leaders in Auburn piloted an innovative program at the farmers market—the Good Food Bag […]
Read MoreIt turns out that encouraging students to make healthier choices in the lunchroom can be accomplished affordably and without a major overhaul of the cafeteria. Research shows that small changes like making the salad bar the highlight of the lunchroom, displaying fruit in attractive baskets, or placing healthy foods by the cash register can influence […]
Read MoreGym class. When mentioned, it may elicit a groan or bring a flood of memories back of locker rooms, stinky gym clothes, and attempting pull-ups. Those may be the memories of adults, but that’s all changing for our current generation of students. According to a report from the Institute of Medicine, nearly half (44 percent) […]
Read MoreThe way streets and sidewalks in your community are built can affect your health. How? If a neighborhood is spread out and disconnected, it requires residents to be more dependent on their cars, which discourages walking and other forms of active transportation. Studies have shown neighborhoods that are more walkable are associated with active transportation, […]
Read MoreAfter the President signs a health bill into law and the celebratory press conferences are over, the real, on-the-ground work begins. Here in King County, nearly 3,000 miles away from Washington, DC, schools and school districts are continuing to implement an instrumental healthy food policy that was passed over four years ago. The Healthy Hunger-Free […]
Read MoreWho plays a role in making sure kids get enough exercise each day? Parents certainly. Schools, yes—that’s why we have gym class and recess. But what about city governments? Well, it turns out that they can play a role, too. Des Moines is one city that has taken the charge head on and is seeing […]
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