Beverly Hills Adopts Healthy Eating Active Living Resolution

At the recommendation of the Recreation and Parks Commission and the Health and Safety Commission, the Beverly Hills City Council recently adopted a resolution expressing its desire to become a Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) city.

Beverly Hills will join over one hundred other California cities that—under the guidance of the League of California Cities—have embraced policies to create work, school and neighborhood environments that are conducive to healthier living.

“The City’s Community Services Department is committed to the HEAL campaign,” said Steve Zoet, Director of Community Services. “Along with the rest of the City’s departments and its elected and appointed officials, we encourage and support healthy lifestyle choices such as wholesome eating and exercise and strive to provide the resources and opportunities for these types of choices for both residents and visitors.”

Beverly Hills already meets many of the HEAL campaign’s checklist items, including encouraging healthy food retailers in the city, hosting a weekly

Farmers’ Market, creating synergy between the Market and local schools, offering a plethora of recreational activities and having wellness policies in-place for city employees. The Beverly Hills Public Library also houses a large collection of materials on healthy living and physical fitness.

Being a HEAL city entails a renewed commitment to healthy food access, obesity prevention, employee wellness, increased opportunities for physical activity and a continued focus on attracting healthy food retailers. As the City approaches proposed future endeavors such as bike lanes, park enhancements, a community demonstration garden and outdoor fitness equipment, it will do so with the clarity and purpose of being a HEAL city.

“HEAL is a state-wide, multi-organizational collaborative effort,” Zoet said. “It speaks to the importance of Californians embracing and practicing healthy choices to help reduce health care costs and improve our individual and collective emotional and physical well-being.”

Stay tuned for future information on Beverly Hills’ proud designation as a HEAL city and visit www.beverlyhills.org anytime to get information on the Farmers’ Market and parks and recreational opportunities.

via: http://beverlyhills.patch.com/articles/beverly-hills-adopts-healthy-eating-active-living-resolution#photo-8861463