Community Design and Access: Nutrition
Choose Healthy Now increases consumer choice by expanding access to healthy snack and drink options. Stickers and print materials in participating snack shops identify healthier items as those labeled with green or yellow stickers. Posters, e-mail reminders, newsletters, taste testing events and small incentive items remind employees to “choose healthy” when visiting these venues.
Aloha Island Mart is implementing the Choose Healthy Now program in their sites across the state. This public/private partnership directly impacts our communities by offering choices to eat healthy and make more informed choices.
SNAP/WIC @ Farmers Markets
The CDPHPD is focused on increasing the number of Farmers Markets across the state that accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Womens Infant Children (WIC) Nutrition support programs across the State of Hawai‘i.
Healthy by Default
Daily food and beverage choices have a big impact on the overall health of Hawaiʻi’s children. Good health starts early, restaurants can now support Hawaiʻi’s keiki by providing healthier drinks with their children’s meals!
On January 1, 2020 Act 138, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes § 321-30.3 went into effect, ensuring that healthy beverages are the default option in children’s meals, if they include a beverage for a single price. This law helps to promote healthy beverage options for children, reduce health risks associated with sugar consumption, and support parents’ efforts to give their children nutritious drinks.
Restaurants that serve a children’s meal with a beverage for a single price can visit https://healthybydefault.hawaii.gov/ to self-certify that they comply with the law.
Please visit https://health.hawaii.gov/san/healthy-by-default/ to download the answers to frequently asked questions on the healthy default beverage law.
Produce Prescription (PRx)
PRx programs are a way for health care workers to prescribe fruits and vegetables, usually through providing vouchers to purchase them, for patients managing chronic diseases and lacking access to nutritious foods. The PRx’s may be used in the health care setting or at local farmers’ markets, brick-and-mortar or online grocery stores, or mobile markets. Many programs also offer nutrition education opportunities (source: CDC, 2024). The CDPHPD is supporting the implementation and expansion of PRx programs at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in priority communities and prioritizing the expansion of PRx eligibility to include high risk food insecure participants.
Healthy Hawai’i Guidelines for Food Banks and Pantries
A collaborative effort is underway to finalize guidelines to promote healthy food donations and the purchase of healthy food in Hawai‘i food banks and pantries. Stakeholders are convening to finalize and begin implementation of the Healthy Hawai’i Guidelines for Food Banks and Pantries
