Recreation Department and CanDo Partner on Healthy Upgrade at EPIC

Dated Press Release
NOTICE: This press release was released 599 days ago!
(Release Date: Apr-01-2008)

John Litel, City of Fort Collins
970.221.6875


Virginia Englert, MS, RD
CanDo (Coalition for Activity & Nutrition to Defeat Obesity)
970.495.7517

Recreation Department and CanDo Partner on Healthy Upgrade at EPIC
EPIC will soon be offering visitors a fresh, new, healthy alternative to snacks and beverages

April 1, 2008 (FORT COLLINS, Colorado) - The City of Fort Collins Recreation Department and CanDo (Coalition for Activity and Nutrition to Defeat Obesity) have partnered on a community health project that will directly benefit the thousands of people who visit EPIC (Edora Pool Ice Center) every year. The two organizations have begun phase one of the project that will enhance and improve EPIC’s current concession stand menu. The community inspired initiative’s goal is to develop an entirely new, health conscious menu that will offer families a healthy alternative without compromising flavor, price or options. The project has received grant support through a LiveWell Colorado grant acquired by CanDo and the Poudre Valley Hospital Foundation.

The EPIC concession stand serves thousands of hockey players, figure skaters, swimmers, parents, spectators and recreational visitors every year. Last year EPIC received over 500,000 visitors, including spectators and participants. While offering a convenience to customers the concession stand also serves as an important source for food and beverages for athletes. The health-minded initiative will create another beneficial reason to visit EPIC, Northern Colorado’s largest indoor ice and aquatics facility. Recreation representative John Litel believes parents in particular will appreciate the new health-inspired menu, “The EPIC concession upgrade will help children make healthier choices and I believe parents will appreciate knowing these options exist at EPIC. Families come to EPIC to participate in healthy activities…our concession stand should deliver a positive, health-minded message in tandem with the activities we offer.” CanDo and Recreation’s partnership will provide a large amount of people healthier alternatives. Virginia Englert, CanDo Coordinator, sees great potential in the project’s service to the community. "This project will help make healthy choices easier and more accessible in our community. With the increasing rates of childhood obesity in Fort Collins (about 1 in 5 kids), it's essential that we provide an environment that makes it easy for kids to eat better and move more."

CanDo and Recreation will be offering public tastings at EPIC in April. EPIC visitors and customers will help determine what food and beverages the new menu will feature. Once the tastings have been completed a suggested menu will be developed, priced and presented to the public. Along with a new menu EPIC’s updated concession stand will include a new theme, identity and design. EPIC visitors should expect to see healthier options appear this summer and a completely revised menu and concession stand by fall. For more information on CanDo, visit www.CanDoOnline.org. For more information on EPIC (Edora Pool Ice Center) visit www.fcgov.com/epic.disabilities. Please call 221-6618 for assistance



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