'Long Live Idaho' campaign promotes healthy eating and active lifestyles

by For the Herald
| June 2, 2016 1:00 AM

CALDWELL – The Healthy Eating, Active Living (HEAL) Idaho partners, powered by the University of Idaho’s Eat Smart Idaho program, have launched a statewide campaign aimed at inspiring Idahoans to eat healthier, lead more active lives, and help their children do the same.

Called “Long Live Idaho,” the campaign runs through 2017 and builds on the national “5-2-1-Almost None” platform, which recommends five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, two hours or less of “screen time,” one hour or more of physical activity, and almost no sugary drinks.

“Parents and caregivers play a major role in children’s health, as role models for healthy eating and activity. If children see their parent or caregiver making healthy choices, they will follow their lead,” said Nikki Telford, Community Nutrition Advisor, Eat Smart Idaho. “This campaign was developed to inspire and encourage adults to make healthy choices for their families.”

Focus group research provided a number of findings that helped shape the campaign. The informal studies showed participants understood the importance of physical activity and nutrition, but were less clear on specific guidelines. “Families are faced with tough decisions every day when it comes to nutrition and physical activity. It is the aim of this campaign to provide Idahoans with user-friendly and supportive messaging to help them make the healthy choice more often in these situations” said Angie Gribble, Physical Activity and Nutrition Program Manager (IPAN) for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.

The HEAL network is comprised of multiple statewide agencies, prominent Idaho organizations, businesses, and individuals. In collaboration with Eat Smart Idaho, the HEAL Idaho Network creates a strong infrastructure of partners working together throughout the state to distribute this consistent healthy lifestyle messaging for greater impact.

To request posters and other educational materials, become involved in the campaign, or simply get more information, contact Nikki Telford at 208-459-6360 or longliveidaho.com.

ABOUT EAT SMART IDAHO

Eat Smart Idaho is administered by the University of Idaho Extension in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. The program has 30 nutrition advisors who teach classes for limited resource children and adults in 39 counties. It is supported by two USDA grants: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed), in partnership with the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service, and EFNEP (Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program), in partnership with the USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture.

More information on Eat Smart Idaho is available at: