HOST HEPA Roundup, July 1, 2015

The latest in our regular roundups of healthy eating and physical activity news from HOST members and others.

Policy

• No Kid Hungry reports that the New York City Council and mayor have agreed to offer breakfast for kids at every elementary school in the city -- 339,000 students.

Events

• The Food Research and Action Center will be holding its July Summer Meals Matter Conference Call, on "Maintaining Momentum and Spike Events," on Thursday, July 2, 1-2 p.m. ET.

Activities and Ideas

• The National Recreation and Park Association offers eight ways to "Flip the Switch" to support the Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Standards on limiting screen time.
• Alliance for a Healthier Generation shares one nine-year-old's thoughts on getting away from screens this summer.
• The American Heart Association gives us tips on seasonal fitness.
• The National Park Service's director, Jonathan Jarvis, in a guest post at CitiesSpeak, tells us "How the National Park Service Can Support Outdoor Recreation Projects in Your City."

Research

• Active Living Research (ALR) shares a study to evaluate a community intervention that increased physical activity and decreased obesity within a small southern town.
• ALR highlights another study showing that girls’ physical activity in parks was more strongly affected by social effects, like the presence of other active children, whereas for boys, it was more strongly influenced by the availability of park facilities.
• The U.S. Soccer Foundation has released a new, independent evaluation of their free, afterschool Soccer for Success program, which serves approximately 30,000 children in underserved communities around the U.S. It concluded that children in the program improved their physical fitness and overall health.