Santa Cruz METRO Board’s Healthy Food and Beverage Option Policy and the Process to Adopt It

Daniel Dodge Sr.Chair, Board of Directors Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District Santa Cruz County, California

Jovenes Sanos (Healthy Youth)

•Youth-based United Way advocacy and leadership program to raise awareness about childhood obesity and diabetes

•37.9% obesity rates in Santa Cruz County for children in 5th, 7th and 9th grades- 49.8% in Watsonville

•The goal: provide access to healthy food and beverages at restaurants, food markets and other places where food is served

Step 1: City of Watsonville

Watsonville City Council passed the Healthy Options ordinance for new restaurants in 2010

Step 2: Work with Santa Cruz METRO to Develop Policy

Result: Santa Cruz METRO’s Healthy Food And Beverage Options Policy

• Requires all vending machines at METRO offices and transit centers to include 50% of food and beverages that meet nutritional standards recommended by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Addresses advertising & pricing of healthy items

• Encourages tenants at the transit centers to provide healthy options

Santa Cruz METRO’s Healthy Food and Beverages Options policy was instrumental in recent national “Roadmaps to Health” $25,000 prize awarded to Santa Cruz County

Santa Cruz METRO and Jovenes Sanos held “Snack-Fest” at METRO offices highlighting healthy eating active living through handouts and activities

Questions?