Posted on Saturday, 13th November 2010 by Brooke Richmond
Auburn, WA – Three high school students from Auburn are on quest to make diabetic-friendly menus a goal for local restaurants.
Monday, Auburn Mountainview High’s Heather Odell, Nichola Usher and Scott Ohashi posted themselves intently in front of more than a 100 hungry students to talk diabetes.
“Listen up everybody!” shouted Heather as she called for attention. “We’re here to teach you more about diabetes prevention. Come on up to our table to learn more!”
Some students quickly shuffled up to the table, while others stuffed their faces with pizza, focused more on lunch than learning about a disease that is often thought of as an older ailment.
“It’s important to me,” said one sophomore, who revealed her grandfather has Type 2 diabetes. “He’s trying to eat better but it’s hard.”
Heather, Nichola and Scott want to change that. As part of Auburn Mountainview High School’s DECA program, they decided this year to focus on diabetes prevention and came up with the idea of “Dine Out to Beat Diabetes Week.”
“We have been friends with Scott for a long time, so we know what he’s been going through,” says Heather. Scott was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was 12 years old, which is rare because no one in his family has the disease.
“I check my blood sugar level 7 to 10 times a day,” says Scott. “It’s a lifelong thing.”
The three have gotten 15 Auburn restaurants to offer healthy alternatives this week and one, Las Margaritas may continue on with the changes long-term.
“I really like helping the kids,” says Las Margaritas owner Edgar Rojas. “It’s good for them and it’s good for us. Less TV, more working out and eating better!”
Here’s a list of participating restaurants:
- Sunbreak Cafe
- Jackpot Teriyaki
- Long Horn BBQ
- Mazatlan
- Zola’s Cafe
- Crown Catering
- Athen’s
- Kouros Kuisine
- T&T Chinese
- B.B. Magraws
- Performance Grill
- Jason’s Coffee
- The Kitsch-en
- Trotter’s Restaurant
- Las Margaritas
The program runs Monday, November 15 through Sunday, November 21.
Ninety five percent of people with diabetes have Type 2, which is preventable. Doctors say making healthy choices and exercising, even 20 minutes a day, can make a difference.
“That’s really what I’ve learned,” says Heather. “It’s the small steps that make the difference.”
Similar Posts:
- Take Menu Calorie Counts With A Grain of Salt
- Are we closer to a cure for type 2 diabetes?
- A search to treat Kylie and rare illnesses
- Diabetes prevalence worldwide has more than doubled since 1980, study finds
- Sitting for hours cuts years off life
Tags: Menu
Posted in Health Notes | No Comments »