by Amanda Chablani, HSC policy specialist
In part because of the ongoing healthcare debate, we’ve seen a slew of new research about the importance of prevention, healthy eating (and here), and regular exercise getting media attention. It’s always great to see research that supports healthy eating, physical activity and good environmental health. This data is incredibly valuable in supporting advocacy for health and wellness.
I have to admit, though, that it’s sometimes difficult for me to get personally excited about more and more research telling us about the benefits of wellness. When I think about the reasons we need policies to support healthy lifestyles, I often think first about the personal stories I’ve heard here at HSC about people who have been involved in efforts to make our schools and communities healthier.I think about how Rosa Guzman, whom we blogged about here and whose story is now told in a book Be Well, is inspirational in her transformation from a woman who says she “lived on the couch” to an active mom, a leader in her community and an influential member of HSC’s Parents United for Healthy Schools coalition.
Each year we’re introduced to new culinary students from Chicago Public Schools who compete to create exciting healthy menus for our Cooking up Change benefit and healthy cooking contest, thereby helping us shine a spotlight on the incredibly challenging job of serving nutritious food in schools across the US. Some of these amazing students have talked about their experiences here and here.
And of course, this year hundreds of students from around the country told their own stories – and the stories of their school facilities – to members of Congress in the Through Your Lens photo exhibit on Capitol Hill.
Just as I appreciate and admire all the hard work that researchers are doing, I’ll continue to look to the individual stories of everyday people and the work they are doing in communities around the country for evidence of meaningful change and the true benefits of wellness.
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