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Did you know kids gain more weight during their summer vacation than they do the entire school year?
That’s why Salud America! and San Antonio celebrity Chef Johnny Hernandez are partnering to launch #SaludSummer, a social media recipe-sharing campaign to promote healthy—and fun—eating for families during the summer.
Starting on July 1, the campaign will use #SaludSummer to share one new kid-friendly recipe a week on social media by Chef Johnny, who puts his passion for Latino flavors, including fresh fruit cups, licuados (smoothies), and tortas into practice at his restaurants in San Antonioand Las Vegas.
People also can share photos of their own healthy foods on social media using #SaludSummer and be entered into a random drawing for a grand prize—a Jawbone fitness tracker.
“Chef Johnny and I know the critical role fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious foods have in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and we want to show that eating healthy doesn’t have to stop when summer arrives,” said Dr. Amelie Ramirez, director of Salud America!, a Latino childhood obesity research network funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and based at the Institute for Health Promotion Research at the UT Health Science Center.
Ramirez said the campaign is a response to emerging evidence that shows children gain more weight during summer months than they do during the school year, and fitness gains children achieve during the school year are erased over the summer.
Chef Johnny, a guest judge on Season 9 of Bravo’s Top Chef and a top-5 Hispanic Chef by Siempre Mujer Magazine, aspires to increase healthy food options for children.
He celebrates Mexico’s traditional foods, ingredients, and techniques in his San Antonio eateries, including The Fruteria – Botanero, which has a menu crafted to highlight the fresh and vibrant flavors of locally sourced, seasonal frutas and verduras, and features lighter fare.
Get each of Chef Johnny’s new #SaludSummer recipes by following Salud America! (@SaludToday on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram) and Chef Johnny (@IamChefJohnny on Twitter and Instagram).
“Don’t miss this chance to cook some tasty, healthy meals this summer together with Salud America! and Chef Johnny,” Ramirez said.
Explore More:
Healthcare Access, Healthy Families & Schools, Healthy Lifestyles, Latino Cancer, Latino ObesityBy The Numbers
25.1
percent
of Latinos remain without health insurance coverage
