News

Focus on healthy eating and active living during HEAL Week

April 23, 2018

The Paso del Norte Institute for Healthy Living (IHL) celebrated a week of events to raise awareness on the importance of healthy eating and active living in preventing disease, provide continuing education to healthcare providers in the area of nutrition and obesity, and celebrate IHL partners dedicated to developing healthy habits for the people living in the Paso del Norte region.

As part of the HEAL Week celebration, the IHL honored La Semilla Food Center with the HEAL Hero Award. This award is given to an individual or organization that makes a significant contribution toward increasing healthy eating and active living in the region. La Semilla’s work includes programs like Edible Education, a school-based garden initiative funded by the HEAL Initiative of the Paso del Norte Health Foundation, and a farm-fresh mobile market. They also were instrumental in the establishment of the Mesilla Valley Food Policy Council in the Las Cruces, NM area.

Other HEAL Week events included a Research Symposium, where top scientists from across the country presented their findings on nutrition, physical activity and obesity.

The final event was a Wellness Fair available to the general public. IHL partners had booths to showcase their work and provide health screenings, such as body composition and veggie-meter testing. Participants had an opportunity to ask questions related to nutrition, physical activity and obesity during an “Ask the Doctor” session. Fun activities were available for the whole family.

For more information on the IHL, visit pdnihl.org.