Here’s a round-up of highlights for May 2016:
Neighborhoods
The Neighborhoods Team is coming to your neighborhood soon! If you live in these neighborhoods, come join us for fun, family-friendly activities during your community kick-off!
• District 8: May 14 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Get up, get out, and get moving for a Day Party at the Hillside Community Center (1201 E. Maddox Ave.)
• Riverside: May 14 from 4 to 7 p.m. On foot, on bike or by car, come join us at the Riverside Community Center (3700 Belknap St.)
• Northside: May 21 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bring the entire family and join us at the Northside Community Center (1100 N.W. 18th St.)
Grocery
Blue Zones Project partnered with Texas Christian University in April to pilot a Healthy Grocery Store Tour Curriculum at Central Market and Fiesta Mart (8th Avenue). The students worked under the leadership of Dr. Lyn Dart, Coordinator, Supervised Practice in Community Nutrition, and Margot Pape, Local Businesses Coordinator at Blue Zones Project.
TCU students led attendees around the store and made stops at various departments and aisles to give tips on how to make healthy choices while shopping. This tour curriculum will soon be utilized by TCU students, community volunteers, and grocery store associates to provide to the community. Stay tuned for dates and times of when YOU can take the tour!
Worksites
Congratulations to the newest Blue Zones Project Approved™ worksites: Balcom Agency, Boys and Girls Club of Fort Worth, Trinity Habitat for Humanity, and Tarrant Regional Water District.
The Blue Zones Project team celebrated 18 City of Fort Worth locations that also became Blue Zones Project Approved by distributing “Plant Slant” snacks to each worksite. Below is a photo of the downtown celebration where all 18 locations were represented.
Built Environment
The Complete Streets Policy will set the foundation as the city continues to build a more walkable environment. The next step is to modify the current Street Design Guideline manual, which is a comprehensive resource that provides information and guidance for the design of the public right-of-way and recognizes the many and varied purposes that a street serves. As Fort Worth works toward Blue Zones Community Certification and AARP Age-Friendly designation, the City will be looking at streets as more than just traffic arteries, but an opportunity to design a community where people can safely walk, bicycle, drive or take transit.
Food Policy
The City of Fort Worth will be voting on an amendment to the pushcart ordinance that would allow for the sale of fresh, whole, and uncut produce. The changes support the Blue Zones Project initiative to bring fresh produce to food deserts, or areas that have limited access to affordable, healthy food. In order to incentivize entrepreneurs, the permit fee is waived if the cart is selling produce only. In addition, the Plan4Health grant, will help launch produce pushcarts with a focus on Southeast Fort Worth.
Mayor Betsy Price and Council Member Shingleton at the City of Fort Worth Worksite and mobile fresh market celebration.
Restaurants
Congratulations to Buffalo West, the newest Blue Zones Project Approved restaurant and the first steakhouse to become Approved in Fort Worth! Join us to celebrate their achievement during our monthly Food, Friends & Flavonoids social event on Wednesday, May 18 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Bring your family and friends to enjoy happy hour specials and Blue Zones inspired food samples.To find healthy options in Fort Worth, click here for the complete list of Approved restaurants, and click here to view the Restaurant Guide with Blue Zones inspired menu items.
Watch the latest Restaurant Video featuring Approved restaurant, Z's Cafe & Catering!
Participating Organizations
Organizations across Fort Worth are encouraging healthy habits for their members. PT Fitness is working toward becoming a Participating Organization and recently hosted a fun and informative Cooking Demonstration with Chef Bernard at the Ronald McDonald House of Fort Worth. Lighthouse Fellowship Methodist Church also hosted a Cooking Demonstration last month.
Schools
Hundreds of students and volunteers walked to school last month for the Walking School Bus, a program that promotes physical activity, parental involvement, and decreased traffic. Congratulations to all of the following schools in Fort Worth ISD and Keller ISD that organized a walk last month: Alice Carlson Applied Learning Center, M. H. Moore Elementary, East Handley Elementary, Bonnie Brae Elementary (pictured below), Timberview Middle School, Mary Louise Philips Elementary, and W. J. Turner Elementary.
In an effort to promote Moving Naturally, the School Team gave presentations to social work classes at Tarleton State University on Walking Moais, the Walking School Bus, and walkability. Blue Zones Project also supported Keller Independent School District at their Schoolwalk for Diabetes where students and families moved naturally to raise money for the American Diabetes Association.
