Food Day is a year-round nationwide celebration of and movement toward more healthy, affordable, and sustainable food culminating in a day of action on October 24 every year.
Created by the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest and driven by a diverse coalition of food movement leaders and citizens, Food Day aims to bring us closer to a food system with “real food” that is produced with care for the environment, animals, and the women and men who grow, harvest, and serve it.
At the Y, we are excited to celebrate Food Day, because we believe the food we eat plays a vital role in our health. Many of our Ys feature onsite Farmers Markets that make it easy for members to enjoy freshly picked, locally grown fruits and vegetables. At the YMCA Center for Health and Wellness in Oviedo, where diet and nutrition are a major focus, they’re even hosting a community garden and Good Eats Club where members share their favorite healthy dishes.
All are led by YMCA registered dietician Kim Letts, who also provides weekly workshops, weight loss programs, and one-on-one counseling to help people plan meals around their specific needs. “Nutrition is a key component in preventing chronic disease,” Lett said. “And the Y’s prevention-focused, personalized programs are crucial in helping members reach their Healthy Living goals.”
In December of 2014, Gary Appelsies, a Board Certified Holistic Integrative Nutritionist, Natural Foods Chef, and Inspirational Speaker will join our team as Director of Healthy Eating to help us continue to make "healthy eating" apart of our wellness programming and services.
For more information on Food Day, please visit www.foodday.org.