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News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 27, 2011

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Samantha Grala Directior of Media Relations 312-543-9878 (daytime), 847-547-9673 (evening) Samantha.grala@loop.colum.edu

Columbia students work towards creating healthier futures CHICAGO—Students United for Healthy Eating, a student organization from Columbia College Chicago that promotes the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, is partnering with Peapod and the Weber-Stephen Products Co to hold their first neighborhood barbeque featuring healthy food choices. The barbeque is being held today at Mary Richardson Jones Park in Chicago. The event is being held to raise awareness about the connection between unhealthy habits of residents in food deserts and the poor health outcomes that will result, in hopes of getting more grocery stores to open in locations of the city. The students of the organization were inspired by First Lady, Michelle Obama’s, “Let’s “Move” initiative.

Students United for Healthy Eating is partnering with Peapod and Weber Grill to host the barbeque which will feature healthy food choices. The organization hopes to attract more businesses and civic leader’s interest to help support the cause. Foods such as turkey burgers, chicken breast, fish, fruit, and grilled vegetables will be served at the local barbeque.

“The main goal here is that we gather the support from businesses and members of the community to establish more local grocery stores that will sell affordable and assessable food for all types of families. We are aware that this will involve a lot of planning and will take a lot of time, so in the mean time the organization and I would like to create some hype on the topic, and

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potentially even become a platform for a national campaign,” says Henry Brubaker, President of Students United for Healthy Eating.

Food deserts are commonly known as lower income areas that do not have easy access to healthy and nutritious foods. Instead these areas have fast food restaurants and convenience stores. Residents of food deserts usually end up consuming bad food choices because of the lack of healthy food options. According to the letsmove.gov, 23.5 million Americans including 6.5 million children currently live in food deserts.

The residents tend to suffer from diseases that result from bad eating habits. According to a study in 2009 from the U.S Department of Agriculture, 1/3 of children eat fast food every day, this will eventually add on six pounds a year, which in the long run will cause obesity. A major long term health consequence from obesity is Type 2 diabetes as well as hypertension. Heart disease and cancer are more serious outcomes that can result from unhealthy eating habits.

“Since First Lady Michelle Obama “Let’s Move” campaigns main goal is to try and eliminate these food deserts, we feel like our event will help promote the same change she is hoping for,” says Henry Brubaker, President of Students United for Healthy Eating.

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