FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                          Contact:  Olga Connor                                                                                       January 21, 2015                                                                                                

   Rosa Oses-Prealoni

                           786-336-1276

Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County, Office of Community Health & Planning

      Encourages Miami-Dade County Residents to Submit their Healthy Promise for 2015

MIAMI - The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County, Office of Community Health & Planning would like to encourage everyone in Miami-Dade County to support the Healthy Promise Florida campaign in the New Year 2015. Miami-Dade County joins other Floridians in the overall promise to “help become the healthiest state in the nation.”

“We would like to encourage all residents to make healthy promises which include commitments to increased physical activity and healthy food choices for themselves and their families. We also invite employers and partnering organizations in the community to encourage their employees and members to do the same. Let 2015 be the beginning of a healthier you!” said Dr. Lillian Rivera, Administrator of the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County.

Miami-Dade County residents can visit http://www.HealthyPromiseFL.com to submit their promise. It can be as simple as promising to drink more water or eat more fruits and vegetables every day. You can also submit specific promises regarding daily physical activities, such as walking 30 minutes a day.

DOH-Miami-Dade Worksite Wellness Team supported the Healthy Promise Florida campaign at the West Perrine Health Center on Friday, January 9, 2015, by having employees post their own healthy promise post-it note on an actual community wallboard. Over fifty post-it note health promises were collected from the employees at West Perrine. Next, the wallboard will travel to the Health District Center located at 1350 NW 14 Street to encourage further participation.

We suggest the following online resources to help you make healthier choices in 2015:

1. http://www.healthiestweightflorida.com a public-private collaboration bringing together state agencies, not for profit organizations, businesses, and entire communities to help Florida’s children and adults make consistent, informed choices about healthy eating and active living.
2. http://www.healthymiamidade.org the official website for the Consortium for a Healthier Miami-Dade, a collaboration between the DOH in Miami-Dade and community partners to combat the increasing rates of chronic disease in the County.
3. http://www.choosemyplate.gov provides practical information and resources to help consumers build healthier diets and incorporate physical activity into their daily lives.
4. http://www.whatscooking.fns.usda.gov provides healthy recipes and food facts.

For more information, please contact the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County, Office of Community Health & Planning located at the West Perrine Health Center at 305-278-0442.

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