Addressing good food

Fresh, healthy, safe, and affordable food is essential to promoting good health and preventing chronic diseases. Chronic disease risk increases when we eat more processed foods and fewer whole foods that are minimally processed such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and seafood, and lowfat dairy products. We have seen rates of preventable chronic diseases increase in King County and nationally at significant rates. To reverse this trend, improving access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food for all people is a priority of our work.

In 2003, King County developed STEPS to Health King County, and in 2005, the King County Overweight Prevention Initiative, both of which initiated our community-coordinated work to begin to address diet-related diseases. Since then, we have initiated and participated in several community projects that each has elements of improving the food environment in King County.

What you can do In Washington State, transportation accounts for 47% of our greenhouse gas emissions, therefore we must reduce our vehicle miles traveled. Here are some additional steps you can take to protect yourself and others from climate change: ASSESS YOUR CURRENT EATING HABITS Learn more about the Dietary Guidelines for Americans SUPPORT "EAT LOCAL INITIATIVES" Shop at a local farmers market, ask your grocer to carry more locally grown products in the produce, meat, seafood, and grain sections, ask your restaurant owner to purchase from local farmers, grow some food of your own in a home or community garden. EAT HEALTHIER AT HOME Cook at home more often, take cooking classes, buy staple foods in bulk, participate in a community kitchen, plan your meals ahead, this saves money and typically results in healthier meals.

	King County Food and Fitness Initiative Prevention Division staff are helping to convene this national multisite effort funded by the Kellogg Foundation to improve food and fitness environments across King County with an emphasis in Delridge (Seattle) and White Center.
	REACH Prevention Division staff lead this CDC-funded multi-year project to improve diabetes prevention and treatment in populations within King County.
	Seattle Nutrition Action Consortium SNAC's mission is to improve the health and nutritional well being of limited income families with children in Seattle and King County. SNAC promotes the good taste of healthy food and encourages families to eat meals together.
	Community kitchens Public Health is working to support a coalition of community kitchen projects across the county. Community Kitchens are a way to bring together community members to cook healthy and affordable meals made from whole foods in bulk and for a nominal cost, take home several ready to eat meals while connecting with others in their community.
	Acting Food Policy Council for Seattle and King County Prevention Division staff participate on this community council that represents diverse sectors pertaining to food access and food policy with the aim of improving the health and sustainability of the local food system and the residents of King County.
	Puget Sound School Gardens Collective To enhance the efforts of individual school gardens in the region, the Puget Sound School Gardens Collective works together to share information and resources to effectively expand and sustain garden-based education efforts.
	School Nutrition (PDF) With the goal of helping to advance healthy eating at schools, CHS staff members work closely with community partners and the Board of Health's obesity prevention committee on school nutrition to identify barriers and solutions to improving school food environments and nutrition education.

• Seattle-King County Acting Food Policy Council
  The Seattle-King County Acting Food Policy Council (AFPC) aims to ensure that all residents have access to nutritious, fresh food that is produced and distributed in a just manner; and that farming, food processing and distribution flourish as part of the local economy and contribute to a healthy environment.
  
  
• Puget Sound School Gardens Collective
  This group is comprised of educators promoting garden-based learning in schools throughout the Puget Sound region.
  
  
• Puget Sound Fresh
  A database of local food sources and opportunities for learning more about programs that support local farmers and food businesses.
  
  
• Local Food Action Initiative
  Seattle's City Council passed this broad policy resolution to improve the food system in and around the Seattle area. The Initiative will expand resources for food banks; strengthen local farmers' markets; develop solutions that will reduce the cost of food for urban consumers by making stronger connections between our rural and urban areas; plan for better management of the food system in emergencies and disasters; and more.
  
  
• Community Kitchens Northwest
  A community kitchen simply means coming together around food in a common community space–to cook together, to learn together, to support one another, and to share resources–all in the name of health, wise use of resources, and community connections.
  
  
• Urban Farm Hub
  Urban Farm Hub is a news and information source for urban agriculture and food policy in the Puget Sound Region. The founders, Diana Vergis Vinh and Ashley DeForest, believe that a cultural food revolution begins with an open exchange of information and ideas. From national food policy news to urban farming resources to a local events calendar, Urban Farm Hub brings it all together in one place.

• Neighborhood Environments Disparities in Access to Healthy Foods in the U.S.
  Research suggests that neighborhood residents who have better access to supermarkets and limited access to convenience stores tend to have healthier diets and lower levels of obesity. Results from studies examining the accessibility of restaurants are less consistent, but there is some evidence to suggest that residents with limited access to fast-food restaurants have healthier diets and lower levels of obesity. National and local studies across the U.S. suggest that residents of low-income, minority, and rural neighborhoods are most often affected by poor access to supermarkets and healthful food.
  
  
• Counties and local food systems
  This publication contains four methods and case studies for how county governments can support their local food systems. It was written with a focus on obesity prevention, but readers interested in the links between agriculture and economic development, environmental protection, and food security will also find the content useful.
  
  
• Policy Guide on Community and Regional Food Planning
  The American Planning Association has created this guide to identify the rationale for planners to pay attention to food systems issues and to provide examples of opportunities for food systems improvements through urban and rural planning.
  
  
• Using Healthy Eating and Active Living Initiatives to Reduce Health Disparities
  Healthier eating and being physically active can significantly improve health. In low income communities and communities of color, it can reduce health disparities. This report identifies key lessons from eight national programs for making healthy eating and active living initiatives successful in reducing health disparities.
  
  
• Healthy Communities Action Strategies Toolkit
  Leadership for Healthy Communities, a national organization that works to inform policymakers about making their communities healthier, has developed this toolkit full of ideas and opportunities for improving healthy eating and active living.
  
  
• Nourishing the Nation One Tray at a Time
  In this position paper outlining improvements to the national Child Nutrition Reauthorization, the National Farm to School Network, School Food FOCUS, and the Community Food Security Coalition, identify opportunities for making public school meals healthier and for linking local farmers with local schools.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  Find data and community tools for prevention obesity, wellness, and other chronic diseases.
  
  
• U.S. Department of Agriculture
  Find information on the food system and programs nationally that impact issues impacting local food production and distribution, nutrition education, food assistance programs, farmers markets and other food retail.
  
  
• The National Institutes of Health
  Find information about research and grant opportunities and outcomes that impact a wide variety of medical issues pertaining to diet-related diseases.
  
  
• Food and Drug Administration
  Find information on food safety, food labeling, food defense and emergency response, and food ingredients.
  
  
• Community Food Security Coalition
  Learn more about efforts around the country to enhance local food systems and increase access to healthy foods.
  
  
• Prevention Institute
  Prevention Institute believes that a prevention approach that draws on all the necessary stakeholders is necessary to ensure that prevention efforts are systematic and comprehensive. By linking practices from public health, education, urban planning, social work, and other fields, communities can create conditions for healthier living.
  
  
• US Childhood Obesity Task Force Let's Move Campaign
  Let's Move will give parents the support they need, provide healthier food in schools, help our kids to be more physically active, and make healthy, affordable food available in every part of our country.