News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT August 27, 2011 Paul McCormack Director of Media Relations 347-427-5280 (daytime), 718-354-5007 (evening) prrelease@medianow.com

Students United For Healthy Eating Launch “Cooking and Community” campaign to eliminate local food deserts.

CHICAGO – Students United for Healthy Eating, a Columbia College student

organization, is hosting their first “Cooking and Community” barbeque in Mary

Richardson Park at 1 p .m. this afternoon for the south side neighborhood’s local

residents. Inspired by Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” healthy eating initiative and

supported by both Weber-Stephen products and Peapod LLC, this student organization is

serving healthy, easy-to-prepare food in order to raise awareness about the hazards

associated with these areas, and allow other individuals and organizations to help

eliminate Chicago’s worst food deserts.

Both Weber-Stephen and Peapod are assisting these Columbia Students through

providing cooking materials and fresh foods to a series of neighborhood barbeques this

autumn season. For these barbeques, which will be located in various food deserts

throughout the city, the students will be serving grilled vegetables in addition to tilapia

and Asian sea bass, chicken and turkey burgers, and various fruits. Since most local

residents are limited to fast food, Weber-Stephen and Peapod are encouraging other

companies to join their initiative to provide better quality eating options.

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“The affects of being forced to consume such an unhealthy diet as those in food

deserts can have just as severe health effects as chronic hunger,” says club president

Henry Brubaker. “Fortunately, with the assistance of both Weber Grills and Peapod in

conjunction with future corporate sponsors, we would be able to provide thousands of

families access to healthy, natural food alternatives”

Food Deserts, or industrialized areas that lack access to grocery stores or

supermarkets, are home to over 500,000 Chicago residents, according to a recent Mari

Gallagher study. These neighborhoods are flooded with convenience stores and fast food

chains, but lack a legitimate food source.

The hazards of a processed diet can be just as severe as chronic hunger.

According to a 2009 study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, increased

access to convenience stores and fast food chains correlates with increased rates of

obesity. In addition, a recent USDA study links food deserts with increased rates of

diabetes, cardio-vascular disease, and even cancer. The food desert issue is only one part

of a nation wide obesity crisis: a problem to which Michelle Obama has become devoted.

“Personally speaking, I know that I was inspired by Mrs. Obama’s “Let’s Move”

Initiative,” says club president Henry Brubaker. “I have identified with her sense of

urgency about the child obesity crisis, and it is something I have definitely tried to

overcome through SUHE.”

Students United for Healthy Eating, or SUHE, is one of over 40 student

organizations formed by Columbia College Students. The organization has been striving

to eliminate local food deserts since 2006.

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