A Letter From Our Director
A Letter From Our Director
Greetings from the Director’s Office,
March is National Nutrition Month! This is a topic that is close to my heart. As a clinician, I know that it can be hard to eat a healthy diet – one that is low in sugars, sodium and fats and high in fruits and vegetables. But I also know that a healthy diet can lead to a longer and healthier life.
I encourage you to think of one small change in your diet that you can make this month. Maybe you can reduce the number of sugary beverages you drink or try to incorporate more fruits into your diet. A small step is a good place to start. You can learn more about the resources available to help you eat a healthier diet in our Live Well Allegheny Story.
A change I made to my diet a few years ago was eliminating sugary drinks. Here is why… A typical adult should try to limit added sugar in their diet to less than 32 g day. A 12 oz can of coke (and many other sodas and juices) contains just under 40 g of sugar. A teaspoon of sugar has about 4 g of sugar. That means that a can of coke has almost 10 teaspoons of sugar. I encourage you to read the food label and Rethink your Drink!
Warmer weather is on the horizon, which should make it easier to get out and be active. I encourage everyone to get outside and to take a walk in a new community or neighborhood park. It’s not only good for your health, but you might learn about a new area in Allegheny County.
Be safe and be kind.
Dr. Debra Bogen
Director, Allegheny County Health Department
Health Observances
March is National Nutrition Month!
During National Nutrition Month and beyond, choose delicious and nutrient-rich foods from each of the five basic food groups! To learn more, check out our LWA Story!
Allegheny County Health Department Updates
2022 Live Well Speaker Series April Event: Duquesne University – B2H Community Health Workers
Please join us for our third Live Well Allegheny Learning Collaborative Virtual Speaker Series of 2022 on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. The topic will be about the B2H Community Health Workers initiative presented by Duquesne University – Center for Integrated Health as well as information on the Community Health Worker grant managed by the ACHD. Questions for the speaker can be sent to Victoria.baker@alleghenycounty.us – please email questions no later than March 31st. To sign up visit: https://form.jotform.com/kohlid/LWACollaborativeSession3.
Live Well, Be Well
Pittsburgh Spotlight: Complete Streets Policies
The City of Pittsburgh, a Live Well Allegheny Community, was spotlighted by Smart Growth America for their implementation of Complete Streets policies. The complete Streets initiative encourages the implementation of policies that ensure that everyone who needs to use streets—no matter how they get around—can safely and comfortably do so. To view the video follow the link here.
Community Resources
PA Walk Works Grant Round Now Open!
Walk Works is pleased to announce its sixth round of funding assistance to advance policy development related to active transportation. Grants will be offered to a limited number of municipalities and other governmental bodies to assist with the development of Active Transportation Plans, Complete Streets Policies, and/or Vision Zero Policies. For more information visit: link Questions? Contact Samantha Pearson at pawalkworks@padowntown.org. Applications are due May 13, 2022 @ 5 p.m.
Wilkinsburg Walking Path Virtual Events
Two walking path virtual events are available to Wilkinsburg residents. For more information or to sign up, visit our events tab of the Live Well Allegheny website here.
Alliance for Healthier Generation: Build a Better District Wellness Policy- Thursday, March 24, 2022 2 p.m.
This is an opportunity for school districts to learn more about how to revise their district’s wellness policy. It is offered as part of Healthier Generation Thriving Schools Webinar Series. To register follow this link.
Eat Healthy-Be Active: Community Workshops
The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion released workshops related to health and wellness. Some examples include: Eating Healthy on a Budget, Tips for Losing Weight and Keeping it Off, and more! The PDF can be found here.
Breathe Pennsylvania Virtual 2022 Tuberculosis Conference – Tuesday, March 15, 2022
Reserve your spot today for the Breathe PA 2022 Virtual Tuberculosis Conference. The event will occur on Tuesday, March 15, 2022 from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. Register here.
Momentum to Action- Health Equity Summit
Thursday, April 7, 2022 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
The purpose of the 2022 Health Equity Summit is to catalyze efforts to eliminate health disparities in Pennsylvania by 2030. This goal will only happen when key leaders coalesce around innovative ideas, promising practices, and a shared agenda.
Speakers from a variety of fields will present timely information to increase health equity, and solutions to addressing health inequalities and eliminate health disparities in Pennsylvania. The goal of this conference is:
- increase awareness of health inequalities in Pennsylvania
- Educate participants on innovative approaches to reducing health disparities and addressing health equity
- develop action steps to reduce/eliminate health inequalities in underserved, marginalized, oppressed communities by 2030.
The following objectives of the conference are:
- explore how social determinants of health impact individual and population health
- discover innovative solutions used nationally and in Pennsylvania to reduce health inequalities in both rural and urban settings
- determine and commit to steps organizations, communities and individuals can take to increase health equity and eliminate health disparities
The event will be both face to face and hybrid. If circumstances dictate cancellation or postponement refunds/credits will be provided.
Register for the event here.
Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh (MOMPGH) Free Dental & Eye Clinic
MOMPGH 2022 will be held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center on August 5 and August 6. To register for this event contact mompgh.org. Volunteer registration opens April 2022.
Register Today for the Fight for Air Climb to Support the American Lung Foundation
The American Lung Association’s Fight for Air Climb, which raises money to fight lung disease, will be held outdoors at PNC Park from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 19. To register, visit the link here.
Live Well Allegheny Story
| March is National Nutrition Month!
Celebrate a World of Flavors! |
| Every year during March, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics focuses its efforts on encouraging everyone to make informed food choices and to develop healthier eating habits through the National Nutrition Month campaign.
This year’s theme, Celebrate a World of Flavors, embraces the global cultural variety of foods and highlights the role that registered dietitian nutritionists play in helping people reach their health and nutrition goals while promoting inclusivity and celebrating individuals’ cultural foods and heritage. They have a wide variety of resources about nutrition that are translated into many different languages available at the following web site: https://www.eatright.org/food/resources/national-nutrition-month/toolkit. We do our part in Allegheny County to participate in the National Nutrition Month campaign by promoting Live Well Allegheny. The county-wide initiative aims to improve the health and well-being of all Allegheny County residents. We recruit and encourage local participants (communities, schools, restaurants and workplaces) to increase their physical activity levels, consume healthier foods and take an overall proactive approach to health. We encourage all the municipalities, school districts, restaurants and workplaces in Allegheny County to Gain Live Well status and join us in making Allegheny County a healthy place to live. Live Well Schools pledge to make their student population healthier by implementing healthy eating policies during the school day. Pittsburgh Public Schools, the second largest district in the state of Pennsylvania, and a Live Well . |