"Healthy Cultures, Healthy Girls"

“Healthy Cultures, Healthy Girls” will begin to challenge and address the lack of culturally appropriate and healthy food options by providing dynamic educational activities to girls and young women who live in three underserved, low-income, urban communities in Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN. This project will be incorporated into the Young Women’s Mentoring Program, a year-round youth development program focused on building the employment and leadership skills of young women and the self-esteem of younger girls. Our vision for the “Healthy Cultures, Healthy Girls” project is to teach female youth to respect each other and their differences, to enjoy trying new cultural foods while learning about nutrition, and to increase their level of physical activity. Support from the Del Monte “Do Something Good For You” program would provide the opportunity for 70 girls, ages 7-13, and 12 Youth Mentors, ages 14-18, from three Minneapolis and St. Paul communities to experience local markets and ethnic grocery stores where they will learn to buy, prepare, and cook healthy food and snacks for their group sessions.