Community Food and Wellness Festival looks to Promote Healthier Lifestyles
By Alex Fernando
July 12, 2018, 4:39 a.m. ·
Those in need in Nebraska can get food, as well as information about activities promoting healthier lifestyles this Sunday, July 15. UnitedHealthcare (UHC), Nebraska Extension’s 4-H program, FoodNet Distribution and other community partners are teaming up to host the Community Food and Wellness Festival at Bluestem Health in Lincoln.
A fan favorite activity are the UHC “blender bikes” that allow children and adults to make their own smoothie with the assistance of pedal-powered blenders.
The event is focused around creating healthier lifestyles throughout Nebraska and the world. Nebraska Extension’s 4-H Food Smart Families program focuses on the state level while UnitedHealthcare brings the idea to a larger scale.
Nebraska Extension educator for Food, Nutrition and Health, Kayla Colgrove, says the students in the 4-H programs are helping to organize the effort.
“4-H really empowers kids to be leaders today, and Nebraska 4-H is growing true leaders. So by leading this festival, teens are really able to learn about the nutritious food while also helping others at the same time,” Colgrove said.
UnitedHealthcare Outreach Specialist, Alberto Cervantes, said the event is great for educating the public about healthy lifestyles.
“Our aim is to engage teens, to empower them and their peers, and to establish lifelong healthy habits. So our way brings back those resources to the community. [This event] really addresses the bigger issue of helping families live healthier lives,” Cervantes said.
Other community partners of the event include Produce from the Heart, Good Neighbor Center, Bluestem Health, NEP (including SNAP-Ed & EFNEP) and Sunday Farmers’ Market at College View.
Colgrove said the support of the community partners for an event like this is extremely important to the overall mission.
“They’ve been helping us provide kids and families with skills they need to eat healthier today and tomorrow, and they’re helping us make nutrition a top priority in Nebraska one family at a time,” Colgrove said.
The Community Food and Wellness Festival takes place Sunday, July 15, from 3:00-4:30 pm in the Bluestem Health parking lot in Lincoln and is open to the public.