On a daily basis we’re bombarded with news about the latest diets, the newest superfoods, and the ever-growing list of foods to avoid. It can be overwhelming and even frustrating. It’s especially daunting when you might not have access to a lot of healthy foods in your community.

Eating well is such an important part to an individual’s overall well-being. That’s where Healthy Hometown^SM Powered by Wellmark can help.

Healthy Hometown is a community health improvement initiative that has identified proven tactics that communities can do to make eating well easier and more accessible. Tactics can be implemented in schools, worksites, grocery stores, restaurants—wherever people spend a lot of time.

Communities can work with Healthy Hometown to make easy changes like:

• Offering water at every meal instead of pop or juice.
• Replacing vending machine or concession stand food with healthier options.
• Encouraging and promoting locally grown or regionally sourced foods.
• Supporting community gardens.

Or, communities can make even more impactful changes like:

• Pass zoning regulations that restrict the density of fast food outlets in a given area.
• Implement zoning regulations that protect land use for farmers’ markets.
• Accept government nutrition vouchers at farmers’ markets.
• Create policy strategies that allow small-scale urban farming.