PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS
Let's Celebrate!
Achieving Blue Zones Project Approved™ status is a wonderful accomplishment. Congratulations to the following organizations who are helping to make the healthy choice, the easier choice in SWFL.
Organizations
To become a Blue Zones Project recognized organization, Purely You Spa offers all organic, natural or botanically based products, removed sugary beverages from their vending machines, hosted educational health and wellness events, offer nutritional foods at meetings and events, and incorporated Blue Zones Project well-being materials into their newsletter communication.
“Since Blue Zones Project aligns with Purely You Spa’s goal to help the community be as healthy as possible it was easy to make the decision to join forces,” stated Jennifer Alvarez Linguidi, owner of Purely You Spa.
To promote better well-being, BKS Yoga studio hosted a Purpose Workshop fortheir instructors and students, became a tobacco-free site, installed bike racks to encourage students to bike to the yoga studio, and removed sugary beverages from their vending machines.
Cypress Cove Conservancy became a Blue Zones Project recognized organization by having a community garden onsite, becoming a tobacco-free organization, offering organic and vegetarian meals at their social events and meetings, and promoting community volunteer opportunities within their organization.
"We share Blue Zones Project values and goals regarding health and lifestyle. Our organization is in direct alignment with the mission and goals of educating the public on how to stay well, live longer and create a sustainable environment," stated Bobbie Lee Gruninger, president of Cypress Cove Conservancy.
To achieve Blue Zones Project recognition, Wildcat Run Golf & Country Club began sharing monthly nutrition spotlights that encourage their members to share recipes and better understand how a wide variety of wholesome, plant-based foods can enhance their energetic lifestyles. In addition to the health benefits, this sharing of recipe ideas also has a social side effect, allowing residents to connect with one another on a more personal level.
To become a the first Blue Zones Project recognized Rotary in the state of Florida, Rotary Club of Immokalee started offering a plant-based meal option at their luncheon meetings, began stocking 9-inch plates and offering to-go containers to encourage small portion sizes. They also encourage their members to participate in community volunteer activities.
“Blue Zones Project helped Rotary Club of Immokalee to better understand and appreciate the benefits of offering healthy plant-based options with every meal to our members,” commented Vicki Gauze, president of Rotary Club of Immokalee. “Our lunches are served at the Immokalee Technical College (iTech) by their culinary arts class and students and they now provide the option to members choose a healthier option in their cafeteria. We created a sign to advertise and promote this option, and it’s placed at the beginning of the serving table so that people know they have a choice.”
Restaurants
Skillets is now a Blue Zones Project Approved™ restaurant! “Blue Zones Project is representative of a nation-wide effort to improve the eating habits of Americans, which is desperately needed due to an epidemic of obesity caused by making the wrong food choices,” commented Ross Edlund, CEO Skillets Restaurants. “Since we now realize that many chronic illnesses and premature deaths are a direct result of what we eat, Skillets wants our customers to know that nutritious, healthy dining choices can be found on our menu.”
