SHAWNEE – During Avedis Health Week festivities, Blue Zones Project Approved organizations Shawnee Family YMCA, SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital - Shawnee, and Oklahoma Baptist University announced a collaborative campaign that will see the addition of healthy food and beverage options at the Shawnee Family YMCA's concession stands. The concession stands are open to the public during league games during the baseball, football, cheer, and soccer seasons. With success during the outdoor sports seasons, the YMCA looks to expand the concession stand offerings to the indoor sports concession stands.
The idea originated from SSM Health Medical Group Registered Dietitian Andrea Beck when she noticed an opportunity for healthy snacks while attending her kids' games at the Shawnee Family YMCA baseball fields.
"The goal for athletes is to jump higher, run faster, kick the ball harder, etc. Our kids must fuel their bodies with real food, not junk," said Beck, who is also a mom to young athletes and sits on the YMCA Board of Directors.
When it came time to inspire her young athletes to select healthy options, she knew she wouldn't have to look farther than OBU student-athletes.
"It's an honor for our outstanding OBU student-athletes to be included in this campaign. We're excited to join with these community partners to help inspire the next generation to make healthy choices and reach their incredible potential," said
Brian Dude, Associate Athletics Director at OBU. Bison student-athletes posed for banner photos with fresh fruits and vegetables and bottles of water that encourage young athletes to "Play like an athlete. Eat like an athlete." With support from SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital - Shawnee, the banners now hang around the YMCA baseball fields.
"We love to promote and encourage a healthy lifestyle to all ages in our community, but especially the younger generation," said Angi Mohr, President, SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital - Shawnee. "The banners featuring Oklahoma Baptist University athletes is a fun way to show the next generation how important healthy eating is."
Healthy choices at concession stands can benefit youth athletes and their parents alike. New healthy choices added to the YMCA concession stand menu include fresh fruits, granola bars and trail mix, and non-sugar-sweetened beverages. For more information about Shawnee Family YMCA membership and sports, including scholarships, call 405-273-4386, or visit
shawneeymca.org.
Brought to Pottawatomie County by the Avedis Foundation in collaboration with Sharecare, Inc., and Blue Zones, LLC, Blue Zones Project is a community-by-community well-being improvement initiative designed to enable community members to live longer, happier lives with lower rates of chronic diseases and a higher quality of life.
Pottawatomie County achieved certified Blue Zones Community® designation in 2020. To learn more about the local Project, visit
pottawatomie.bluezonesproject.com.
About Avedis Foundation
Avedis Foundation is a private foundation with 501 (c) 3, nonprofit status, established in Oklahoma in 2012. Avedis seeks to measurably improve the health, wellness and quality of life for the people of Pottawatomie County and its surrounding communities. Avedis Foundation supports projects that directly benefit people from the communities we serve, particularly those projects that support overall well-being for any age group. For more information, visit
avedisfoundation.org.
About Blue Zones Project
Blue Zones Project® is a community-led well-being improvement initiative designed to make healthy choices easier through permanent changes to a city
's environment, policy, and social networks. Blue Zones Project is based on research by Dan Buettner, a National Geographic Fellow and New York Times best-selling author who identified five cultures of the world—or blue zones —with the highest concentration of people living to 100 years or older. Blue Zones Project incorporates Buettner
's findings and works with cities to implement policies and programs that will move a community toward optimal health and well-being. Blue Zones launched the first pilot community in 2009 in Albert Lea, MN with groundbreaking results. In partnership with Sharecare, the model has since been applied to more than 50 communities across North America, impacting more than 3.8 million citizens. The population health solution includes two Health Districts in California; 15 cities in Iowa; the city of Fort Worth, Texas; Corry, Pennsylvania; Brevard, North Carolina; Walla Walla Valley, Washington; and communities in Southwest Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Wisconsin.
For more information, visit
bluezonesproject.com.
