'Go,' 'slow,' 'whoa' coming to food aisles
CHAMPAIGN — Want to eat tomatoes, apples, grilled chicken without the skin, whole-wheat rolls? Go for it!
White bread and cheddar cheese on your sandwich? Slow down!
Include the cake for dessert? Whoa!
Depending on where you grocery shop, you'll be seeing signs that read "Go," "Slow," or "Whoa," in the food aisles soon. They're part of a healthy-eating and physical-activity program the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District is promoting with area schools.
The program helps children and their families make better food choices. But the food signs are there in the stores to guide all shoppers, just like traffic signs guide drivers: "Go" foods are intended to be eaten the most because they're the healthiest; "slow" foods are intended to be eaten a bit less, and "whoa" foods are intended to be eaten least of the three, said Jennifer Jackson, health educator for the public health district.
Jackson said a handful of schools and stores are participating in this program, but she hopes to see more take part. Stores that have signed up so far, she said, include Schnucks in Champaign, Ingold's Grocery in Fisher, Mahomet IGA, the County Market at 1819 S. Philo Road, U, and the Walgreens at 302 E. University Ave., U.
"I'm surprised everybody's not," Mahomet IGA owner Brooks Marsh said. "If you can promote healthy eating, why wouldn't you? It's part of what we do."
Carrie Busey Elementary School in Champaign is in its third year of participating in this program, which is officially called CATCH, or Coordinated Approach to Child Health.
The longer students have been in school, the easier it is for them to identify their "go," "slow" and "whoa" foods, said the school's PE teacher Wendy Starwalt.
Healthy eating and exercise is a theme at the school, she said.
There's a classroom curriculum with homework involved, such as kids exercising with their families at home. Last school year, when there were three snow days in a row, Starwalt said she emailed parents and offered a prize to students who would make a healthy recipe with their families and exercise during TV commercials.
"It was just a way to keep them exercising and keep them moving," she said.
Lunchtime is another focus for this program, Starwalt said. "Lucky tray" contests have kids scrambling to eat that day's announced "go" food for a chance to win a prize, she said.
More incentives for better health: The school will be holding a healthy-recipe contest for a chance to win an apron, mixing spoons and gift card to a grocery store, and is planning a 3K run/healthy foods tailgate for students and their families on Sept. 17, Starwalt said.
Jackson says the CATCH program doesn't place any foods off limits.
"We want to make sure everybody understands you can eat everything, but in moderation," she said.
More of those "go" foods include fat-free or 1 percent dairy products; fresh, frozen or canned fruits and vegetables without added sugar, salt or fat (or just a small amount of salt added); whole-grain breads, tortillas and rolls; brown rice; baked tortilla chips; whole-grain, low-sugar cereals; lean cuts of beef and pork; baked, grilled or broiled chicken and turkey without skin; whole-grain pasta; baked, grilled or broiled fish; eggs not fried in solid fat or vegetable oil; and black, red and other beans without added salt or fat or just a small amount of added salt.
Some of the "slow" foods include pretzels; baked chips; 2 percent milk; lean ham and regular cuts of beef; jam; jelly; ketchup; white bread and buns; pasta made with refined flour; low-sugar cereals; fruit canned in light syrup; hummus; lunch meat; white rice; egg noodles; low-fat hot dogs; natural peanut butter; sweetened, fat-free or low-fat yogurt; cheese; and low-fat ice cream.
Some of the "whoa" foods to eat less of, or save for occasional treats, are popcorn with butter; french fries; high-fat potato chips and crackers; cookies; cakes; doughnuts; processed cheese; high-sugar cereals; whole-milk dairy products; hot dogs; sausage; fried fish and chicken; peanut butter with added sugar; regular (as opposed to lean) ground beef; pepperoni; salami; and both regular and diet soda.
To see the whole list of "go," "slow" and "whoa" foods, visit http://bit.ly/mPZBNM.
MoreProbably. And your tax dollars are definitely going for treating diabetes, heart disease, and other diseases related to poor diet among low income people. I saw a movie from the 50's the other day where they described someone as "a fat man, 180 pounds". Need I say more?
I don't know if tax dollars support this program or not, but I have no problem whatsoever if it is tax supported. Programs like these cost relatively little to administer and have a high return. Besides, I like living in a society that tries to help little kids avoid debilitating diseases. But that's just me.
This is a joke right? First of all this is taking nanny state to the next level, the government needs to be less worried bout what we are eating and focus on getting us jobs so we can eat. Second this is going to be ignored anyway and just seems like a annoyance to shoppers. Its up to each individual and family to make food choices no the government or some stupid stop, go, whoa sign.
Hyperbole much? An education campaign does not a nanny state make. Last time I checked, individual families were free to choose which foods they'd like to purchase with their own dollars. Society benefits when those families purchase healthy food choices, which is why programs like this are funded.
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