In Oklahoma, we want a bright and prosperous future for our state
and for our children. Creating that bright future also includes creating
opportunities for healthy choices where we live, work, learn and play.
September is childhood obesity awareness month. It is important to highlight all the efforts aimed at creating a healthier
tomorrow for our children. Nationally, one in three children is overweight or
obese. In Oklahoma, those figures aren’t much different. Childhood obesity puts
kids at risk for health problems as adults, including high blood pressure and
heart disease, but it also puts kids at risk for type II diabetes – a disease
that was once only seen in adults. If childhood obesity rates continue
to climb, this will be the first generation of children who will not have the same
life expectancy as their parents.
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Carter County grant partners with school cafeteria workers to create healthy options for students
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Preparing for September Fruits and Veggies month, school cafeteria employees from Carter, Marshall, and Johnston counties participated in the 2nd Annual Shape Your Menu workshop in Ardmore to learn about innovative techniques for healthy meal planning.
The Carter County Health Department, a TSET Communities of Excellence Physical Activity and Nutrition grantee, held this two-day workshop to train cafeteria staff on recipe planning, cooking techniques, food safety, childhood obesity, cafeteria atmosphere, and overall student customer service.
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TSET
Board of Directors approve grants for eight school districts
The board approved a total of $93,500 in incentive grants to the following
school districts: Central High (Stephens County); Colbert (Bryan County); Deer
Creek (Oklahoma County); Jenks (Tulsa County); Milburn (Johnston County);
Oklahoma City (Oklahoma County); Ravia (Johnston County) and Soper (Choctaw
County).
TSET Board of Directors approve $70,000 in grants to two communities
The TSET Board of Directors approved $70,000 in grants
to two communities implementing policies and strategies that work to increase
healthy opportunities for residents. Durant and Wilson received grants as part
of the TSET Healthy Communities Incentive Grant Program.
 In November, TSET will begin celebrating the 15th anniversary of the voter approval of the constitutional amendment that created the endowment trust. Keep an eye out for upcoming events as TSET commemorates this moment in history.
Oklahoma's Health Milestones:
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- Adult smoking prevalence decreased from 28.7 percent in 2001 to 23.3
percent in 2013. Oklahoma ranks 39th among states in adult smoking.
- Quit attempts among smokers are now at 61.5 percent and
cigarette sales have decreased from 108.1 packs per capita in 2001 to 67.2 packs per capita.
- The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline
has served more than 250,000 Oklahomans since 2003 and was ranked the top quitline for reaching tobacco users seeking treatment in FY2013 by the North American Quitline Consortium.
- More than 274 public school districts have 24/7 Tobacco-Free Property policies and two-thirds of Oklahoma's public school students attend a tobacco free school.
The Academy Sports & Outdoors Kevin Durant Basketball ProCamp 2014
Winners of a summer social media challenge launched by Shape Your Future were among the children at the Academy Sports + Outdoors Kevin Durant
Basketball ProCamp. Shape Your Future is a joint initiative by the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) and the
Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) that encourages Oklahomans to eat better, move more, and be tobacco free.
Children and parents jumped at the opportunity to participate in the Kevin Durant Basketball ProCamp. The experience emphasized the need for physical activity and educated parents on the importance of proper nutrition and the connection it has to sports performance. Children learned from Kevin Durant and enhanced their basketball skills.
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Pack a lunch, bring it to work, and learn how easy it is to eat healthy
 TSET staff participated in the OK Health Wellness Challenge from August to September. All state employees were encouraged to bring a homemade lunch to work three times a week. Healthy eating and lifestyle choices are easier to implement if employees are encouraged in the workplace.
TSET created a Wellness Challenge app on Facebook that asked participants to submit a photo of each meal, name it, and rate it on tastiness. Congratulations to our Employee Wellness Challenge winners Cassandra Bachrach, Holly Gordon, and Kathy Healy!
To learn more about TSET follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
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TSET and Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) are
looking for passionate individuals who have had life-changing, secondhand
smoke-related health problems for an upcoming statewide
education campaign through Tobacco Stops With
Me.
If you have a compelling story and are looking to make an
impact on the health of Oklahoma and your local community, please consider this
opportunity to share your story.
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