U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka holds health fair at Sullivan’s Elementary School

Photo By Paul Long | Lt.j.g. Elaina Ortiz, a registered dietician and nutritionist at U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka, explains health food choices during a Healthy Parents, Healthy Kids seminar, Oct. 11. Ortiz spoke to an audience of over 40 parents during the seminar about making the right food choices for themselves and their families. (Photo by Paul Long, FLEACT Yokosuka Public Affairs).  

YOKOSUKA, KANAGAWA, JAPAN

10.11.2013

Story by Paul Long 

Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka

YOKOSUKA, Japan - The U.S. Naval Hospital (USNH) Yokosuka held the “Healthy Parents, Healthy Kids” seminar at The Sullivan’s Elementary School, on board Fleet Activities, Yokosuka Oct 11.

Lt.j.g. Elaina Ortiz, a registered dietitian and nutritionist at USNH Yokosuka, hosted the seminar in the school’s second floor cafeteria to a crowd of over 40 parents.

“Children are a passion of mine,” Ortiz said. “With childhood obesity on the rise in America, I think it is vitally important to spread the word about nutrition and physical activity and utilize the resources of our community to do just that.”

Ortiz also said that parents, are responsible for the well-being of their children now, as well on the path to their adulthood.

“It is imperative that we show them how to take care of themselves by living a healthy lifestyle right now,” said Ortiz. “This can be accomplished with a little planning, determination and know-how of the right resources. From playing baseball in the park to taking your kids grocery shopping, being a positive healthy role model is an easily obtained aspiration.”

Ortiz had several items for display to show the parents how to make healthy food choices at the commissary as well the nutritional value of all foods at the base’s restaurants.

Three hospital corpsman, from the Health Promotions program, demonstrated workout routines you can do without a gym and how to incorporate movement and activities into your daily regime.

Ortiz said proper nutrition and exercise go hand in hand. “You need to work your muscles and your heart in a variety of ways to decrease fat mass and maintain a healthy weight,” she said. “You also need to the right fuel to help you reach those same goals.”

To help parents make good nutritional choices for their families, Ortiz recommended the following websites: Sneakychef.com; cookinglight.com; choosemyplate.gov;
kidsagainstjunkfood.com.

• Date Taken: 10.11.2013
• Date Posted: 11.01.2013 03:16
• Story ID: 116102
• Location: YOKOSUKA, KANAGAWA, JP