Alameda County Community Food Bank Brings Together Chef, Health Officer, and 280 Hunger Relief Agencies to Combat Rising Health Crisis in Alameda County; Focus on Healthy Eating and Exercise to Overcome Obesity and Diet-Related Diseases.

OAKLAND, Calif. -- "Small steps for big change" is the theme of Alameda County Community Food Bank's 2nd Annual Nutrition Conference on Thursday, July 21, at the Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center in Oakland from 8:30 am to 3 pm. Targeted for Food Bank member agencies and clients, the conference highlights include keynote speeches by Berkeley restaurateur and chef Todd Kniess of Bistro Liaison, and Dr. Anthony Iton, Health Officer with the Alameda County Public Health Department, a QiGong demonstration and a pre-lunch walk. Free pedometers will also be given to each participant.

"There's a health crisis in Alameda County, with 51 percent of adults in Alameda County who are obese, and 61,800 people in Alameda County have been diagnosed with diabetes," states Suzan Bateson, Alameda County Community Food Bank executive director. "Our Food Bank is hosting this nutrition conference because low-income communities experience a higher prevalence of chronic diet-related diseases; we know access is a barrier to adequate nutritious fresh fruits and vegetables. At our conference, we want to explore ways our network can help their clients consume a more balanced diet and engage in more physical activities."

Four workshops will be presented on Thursday, including a panel discussion on good eating habits, a demonstration on preparing healthy meals using Food Bank products, a discussion on ways to serve healthy and culturally appropriate foods as well as a forum about government food programs that can provide low-income children and adults with expanded food resources.

California currently faces a very real health crisis. In the state, 57 percent of adults are overweight or obese and rates of overweight and obesity in African American (66 percent) and Hispanic adults (71 percent) are even higher. Additionally, more than one out of every three 9- to 11-year olds in California is at risk for becoming overweight or is already overweight. Fortunately, recent studies show that certain chronic diseases, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease and some types of cancers can be reduced through a healthy diet and physical activity.

The conference was funded in part by California Nutrition Network and Kaiser Permanente.

Established in 1985, the Alameda County Community Food Bank works with 280 community based organizations, including soup kitchens and food pantries, to provide emergency food assistance to 120,000 people in need each month. In addition to food distribution, the Food Bank participates in education and advocacy efforts. For more information, call [phone] or visit www.accfb.org.