A pilot project that brought healthy food options to local arenas was a big success in Chatham-Kent.
Super Kids CK Coordinator Annie Lukacsovics says the Fuel Up! Pilot Project was created to offer healthy food options for residents that visit arenas in Dresden, Tilbury, and Blenheim. The program, which ran until the end of March, was in partnership with the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit and Super Kids CK.
"It was through our last theme, which was 'Choose to boost veggies and fruit,'" says Lukacsovics. "Basically we wanted to provide a supportive environment for people in Chatham-Kent to be able to have the option of choosing healthy food."
Lukacsovics says different nutritious foods are being offered at each arena.
"In Blenheim, they've included a container with veggies and dip and they have apple slices available. In Tilbury, they've included grilled cheese sandwiches, which is a better option than eating a hamburger. And smoothies, which are a huge hit," she says.
Lukacsovics says some preliminary results of the program have come back, which show almost a quarter of the Tilbury Arena's sales are from the healthy food options.
She says the most important thing is that people have the option.
"We are surrounded by a lot of foods that are unhealthy and to have the availability of those foods is important for people to make changes in their daily lives," says Lukacsovics.
She says the health unit has also been working with many community organizations and schools. She says nine schools participated in the CK Veggies and Fruit Boosters program and seven schools participated in a salad bar program.
-With files from Matt Weverink