Seasonal sweet treats and multi-course meals tempt even the most dedicated healthy eaters during the holidays. That’s why the American Heart Association designated November as Eat Smart Month.
Kicking off with Eat Smart Day on Nov. 1, the month-long campaign is part of the Association’s new Healthy For Good movement and communities across South Carolina celebrated by working to inspire others to eat healthy in November and throughout the year. Here are some of the highlights across the state:
The Charleston team kicked off Eat Smart Month by partnering with a local Bi-Lo in West Ashley. The team encouraged shoppers to look out for heart-healthy items. They passed out educational flyers on how to properly read nutrition labels, how to differentiate good and bad fats, and information on what superfoods to try. Shoppers played an educational trivia game and had the chance to win a Bi-Lo gift card.
The Upstate team, in partnership with local Life is Why Sponsor, Bon Secours St. Francis Health System, celebrated Eat Smart Month by working with diverse after-school programs to teach students the importance of healthy eating. They hosted healthy cooking demos at the Boys and Girls Club, the Judson YMCA, and Nicholtown. Students had a chance to make Green Monster Smoothies and learn why fruits and veggies are an important part of their daily diet.
AHA teams across the state including, Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, Charleston, Florence, Sumter, CSRA, Midlands and Upstate distributed over 150 Eat Smart Month kits to local companies in South Carolina.
Our mission is to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. For nearly 100 years, we’ve been fighting heart disease and stroke, striving to save and improve lives. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer worldwide, and stroke ranks second globally. Even when those conditions don’t result in death, they cause disability and diminish quality of life. We want to see a world free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.