L.A. Celebrates National Food Day

Monday marks the first National Food Day, a nationwide campaign to improve the health of Americans through food choices.

The grassroots event sponsored by the Center for Science in the Public Interest encourages Americans to make better eating habits. Its efforts include reducing diet-related diseases, such as diabetes, and expanding access to healthful foods. Across the nation, people will be meeting for thousands of events Monday to have public discussions about food and share meals.

The Los Angeles Food Policy Council, founded by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, is helping to coordinate events in the city to make Los Angeles a “Good Food” region for everyone.

“Los Angeles is stepping up to the ‘Good Food’ plate with our Food Policy Council,” said  Villaraigosa. “Many Angelenos are successfully working to make a meaningful difference in our local food system, particularly in ways that assist those residents most in need of healthy nutrition.  This is especially important for Angelenos who live in neighborhoods where healthy foods are harder to find, which put them at greater risk for obesity and diabetes.”

In Los Angeles County alone, more than 20% of children in 5th, 7th and 9th grades are obese, and 58% of adults are overweight or obese, according to the LA County Dept. of Public Health. Diabetes and heart disease are on the rise, and are the leading causes of death in Los Angeles County.  The lack of access to healthy food is a major contributor to these significant health problems. Food Day LA activities will highlight key food policy victories that are addressing these issues. 

Events can be found on the Food Day website or at the L.A. County Department of Public Health's Choose Health website.