On Monday, October 24, the first Food Day was celebrated nationwide. Created by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Food Day is a grassroots effort to improve food policies. Food Day seeks to bring together Americans from all walks of life -- parents, teachers, and students; health professionals, community organizers, and local officials; chefs, school lunch providers, and eaters of all stripes -- to push for healthy, affordable food produced in a sustainable, humane way. Birmingham took part in this year’s Food Day, with an emphasis on combating obesity through access to healthy foods.

Birmingham Food Day was sponsored by the Jefferson County Place Matters Team and UAB HealthSmart. The Jefferson County Place Matters Team is part of an initiative from the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a think tank concerned with policies relating to African Americans and other communities of color. Place Matters Teams are located all over the country, where they look at health equity in terms of the built environment, how economics impact health, the role of housing, and other matters that impact public health.
 

“Nationally, the Place Matters Team is focused on health equity, and it does this by trying to empower communities by addressing conditions that may shape health,” says Dr. Monica Baskin, Jefferson County Place Matters Team Lead. “Our Jefferson County team is particularly focused on healthy eating and active living. Our focus is to make sure that all residents have access to healthy, affordable food as well as safe opportunities for activity.”
 

The Jefferson County Place Matters Team took on the role of organizing others to recognize Food Day. Partners included UAB HealthSmart, the Jefferson County Department of Health, the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama and Main Street Birmingham. West End Community Gardens was on hand with information about gardening and health foods, and the UAB Farm Stand had produce for sale. UAB Catering had recipes for meatless meals, with an emphasis on fresh fruits and vegetables.
 

“Since our event was held at HealthSmart, our primary goal was to reach more underserved individuals,” says Joanice Thompson, partnership coordinator with the Jefferson County Place Matters Team. “At HealthSmart, we do free preventive screenings and individuals get a health profile.”
 

HealthSmart partnered with the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama to give out bags of fruits and vegetables to the first 50 bus riders who came in for the Food Day activities.
 

Every bus rider that came in was eligible to sign up and come back for free health screenings. “When we got here that morning, we already had three bus riders waiting outside the door,” Thompson says. “We stuffed the bags with information on where they could continue to go to get free fruits and vegetables. The main thing we hoped that they learned is there is a need to increase fruits and vegetables in their diets, and there’s a way they can get fresh foods for free at the Community Food Bank. Then they can come here and get free health screenings and get healthier for the long term.”

Mayor Bell signed a proclamation recognizing the importance of Food Day. “The proclamation is very helpful because it publicly states that the health of the citizens of Birmingham is on the mind of the mayor and the mayor’s office,” says Dr. Baskin. “They are completely behind the local efforts for access to healthy foods.”
 

Dr. Baskin says the goals of Food Day are long-term for Birmingham. “We are continuing on with our Place Matters objectives, which include partnering with others to make policy and environmental changes. We’re actively working with Main Street Birmingham, the Health Department, United Way and others to see what additional things we can do besides awareness. We want to make sure our community reflect opportunities to get healthy foods, bringing greater access into the community for all people.”
 

For more on HealthSmart, visit www.uabhealthsmart.org.