Sodexho, the nations leading provider of integrated food and facilities management services, is pleased to announce that its innovative Create Your WeightSM program that has helped participants lose an average of 15 pounds through a combination of high-tech measurement and personal counseling will be customized for Hispanic Floridians thanks to a grant from the Hispanic Obesity Prevention & Education (H.O.P.E.) and DrTango, Inc.
The $20,000 grant will enable Sodexho to work with H.O.P.E. to create a comprehensive program that is culturally and linguistically appropriate and can be individually tailored for Hispanics who are trying to lose weight. Aventura Hospital and Medical Center and Sodexho will be providing a program which includes weekly sessions taught by a Registered Dietitian, effective menu plans, and fitness programs, shopping lists, and tracking tools so that dieters can monitor their own progress. All program materials will be translated into Spanish; bilingual dietitians will teach classes in Dade, Broward and Collier counties and Sodexho chefs will demonstrate how to prepare healthy Hispanic recipes such as Chicharron de Pollo, Carne en Jocon/Adobo, and Bacalao Guisado. Exercise physiologists and physical therapists will also provide program participants with information on increasing exercise in their daily activities. MiDieta, an internet site will further engage participants and/or their families, providing continuity and guidance between classes. Finally, the grant includes an evaluation of the impact of the program in both employee and community settings.
