California Project LEAN Review

What You Should Know

The mission of California Project LEAN is to reduce the growing threat of obesity and other chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer while increasing physical activity and healthy eating.  Thee acronym LEAN stands for “Leaders Encouraging Activity and Nutrition.”  The program combines the efforts of the California Department of Health Services and the Public Health Institute to focus on creating youth empowerment programs, state-wide policy and community-based solutions that will result in better nutrition and fitness options for young people of California.

Product Features

California Project LEAN is an organization dedicated to reducing the growing health issues facing the youth of their state.  The organization has developed a number of programs for use in state schools and communities.  The official website of California Project LEAN contains information on a number of the programs they have developed such including Food on the Run, which provides children with more opportunities for physical activity and more access to smart food choices in schools.  The Successful Students through Healthy Food Policies focuses on educating school leaders about the connection between healthy eating and academic performance in as effort to encourage schools to offer more nutritious food at mealtimes.  The Community-Based Social Marketing initiative aims to increase the amount of fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy consumed by students and their families. There is no membership cost to access the site and most information is free.  There are, however, a number of resources on the site like pamphlets and guidelines which may be downloaded for a small fee ranging between $1.00 and $20.00.

Advantages

• California Project LEAN is an excellent resource to teach children and teens about healthy food and fitness options.
• California Project LEAN makes its information available in both English and Spanish.
• California Project LEAN includes a number of inexpensive, downloadable resources to target health concerns in schools.

Disadvantages

• California Project LEAN programs are available in California only.

Conclusion

California Project LEAN is one of a growing number of organizations which have sprung up to combat the increasing problems of poor nutrition and fitness habits that have led to the rise in childhood obesity.  California Project LEAN does a great job on its website of laying out what its goals and objectives are and how it hopes to reach them.  There are a number of resources geared specifically for school.  However, many of the guidelines and ideas could be used by ordinary families seeking to improve the health and fitness of their own children.