Governor Rendell: Consider Nutrition and Exercise to Promote Good Health

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell recognizes the value of good nutrition and regular exercise in promoting good health as he proclaims March 8-12 Older Pennsylvanians' Nutrition Awareness Week.  

"It's important for all Pennsylvanians – including older citizens -- to take good care of their health," said Governor Rendell. "Eating properly and getting adequate exercise can go a long way to maintaining good health."

Pennsylvania invests more than $65 million each year to provide nutritious home-delivered and congregate meals. The Department of Aging coordinated the distribution of more than nine million meals to more than 114,000 older adults last year. Many meals are provided through senior community centers as part of a broad range of services and activities those centers offer to older Pennsylvanians.  

"These meals provide a balanced diet and a large part of the daily nutrition requirements of many older adults," said Department of Aging Secretary John Michael Hall. "The meals are provided at least once a day, five days a week and help to meet the nutritional needs of older adults."

The Department of Aging and the state's 52 Area Agencies on Aging offer information and programs on proper nutrition for older adults. Volunteer and community-based programs also support these nutritional needs.

For more information, visit the Department of Aging online at www.aging.state.pa.us or call 717-783-1550.

Editor's Note: The text of the Governor's proclamation follows:

Older Pennsylvanians' Nutrition Awareness Week

March 8-12, 2010

WHEREAS, March is National Nutrition Month and Area Agencies on Aging and senior community centers will be celebrating this year's theme "Nutrition from the Ground Up" for National Nutrition Month and "Eat Well, Stay Active and Live Longer" for Older Pennsylvanians' Nutrition Awareness Week; and

WHEREAS, food is the substance by which life is sustained and the type, quality and amount of food that older individuals consume each day plays a vital role in their overall health and physical fitness; and

WHEREAS, there is a need for continuing nutrition education and a wide-scale effort to enhance good eating practices; and

WHEREAS, more than $65 million is spent annually by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging on nutrition programs in the commonwealth such as home-delivered meals, congregate meals at senior community centers, nutrition education and nutrition screening; and

WHEREAS, over 9 million meals are served to more than 114,000 older adults in Pennsylvania annually; and

WHEREAS, home-delivered and congregate meals supplied through the Pennsylvania Department of Aging are provided at least once a day, five days a week and help to meet the nutritional needs and ensure the health of older adults; and

WHEREAS, community-based volunteer programs are also providing nutritious home-delivered meals across the commonwealth.

THEREFORE, I, Edward G. Rendell, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, do hereby proclaim March 8-12, 2010 as OLDER PENNSYLVANIANS' NUTRITION AWARENESS WEEK.  I encourage all citizens to celebrate the significant contributions of all older Pennsylvanians and to help them achieve optimum health for today and tomorrow.

GIVEN under my hand and the seal of the Governor, at the City of Harrisburg, on this twenty-sixth day of February in the year of our Lord two thousand and ten, and of the Commonwealth the two hundred and twenty-fourth.

Edward G. Rendell, Governor

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor