How Do We Operate in the Age of Coronavirus?

Hello to all our Let’s Move! STL followers,
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Our Let’s Move! STL efforts are based in an urban area in the Midwest. Within our very own city, we have observed many people living with low incomes, inadequate housing, food deserts and food swamps, lower education levels, and a lack of healthcare. These factors contribute to higher rates of obesity and non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) like high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes which ultimately result in shorter lives of poorer quality. Good knowledge about nutrition, fitness and health put into everyday practice can help prevent many of these NCDs and pave the way for longer, higher quality lives. Our focus is to help members of our community build this knowledge. Many of the people we serve in this community could not afford to pay for the education and services we provide, but fortunately, we have been funded to provide them.

We have served this community since the fall of 2005, five whole years before the Let’s Move! STL effort began. In that time, we have provided the community with speakers on a variety of health and nutrition topics. We have provided nutrition classes and cooking demonstrations across the greater metro area. We have supported our many community partners via health fairs and other community events. By providing our expertise, we have improved the quality of life for people in every stage of the life cycle: from pregnancy and infancy through old age.

We have always had a web presence with sites on several social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. We regularly update our website and send out a monthly email newsletter; both provide the opportunity to get evidence-based information from registered dietitians, the nutrition experts. We strive to make accurate information on nutrition, fitness and health readily-available and free of charge to those in our community and beyond.

Since 2005, we have been on a mission to spread the messages of good nutrition, good physical fitness and good health. We embrace our mission wholeheartedly and with passion. So, anything that is counter to that mission is definitely on our radar and a part of our consideration as we move forward.

Like many of you, the coronavirus impacts how we operate in carrying out our mission, but not the desire or need to do so. We had to be creative and use existing resources in new ways. We also learned new technologies that allow us to continue to deliver information to our community virtually. When in-person activities were not possible, we turned to the creation of electronic media to keep the education effort going. We recorded cooking demonstrations, community education, and nutrition lessons for school children and provided them to our partners so they reach the members of our community who need them. Like many of you we are making the best of a bad situation.
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What many of you may not be aware of is the nutritional aspect of coronavirus prevention and care. A well-functioning immune system can help people to avoid catching the virus and promote better recovery if they do catch it. Maintaining good nutrition to include appropriate levels of the vitamins, minerals and other food components that promote immune function has been a big part of our messaging lately. Linking food-insecure people to food has always been a high priority; it still is today. Additionally, exercising regularly is a factor that promotes better health and immunity as well as decreases stress, another risk factor for coronavirus. We have vigorously promoted all of those aspects of coronavirus prevention and will continue to provide evidence-based information to support all aspects of nutrition, fitness and health for all our followers. This is our lane and our way to make things better in today’s challenging environment.