New U of M-funded projects target healthy eating behaviors

News Release Media Note: Details about individual projects are available from the researchers and on the HFHL website: http://www.hfhl.umn.edu. s can be arranged through the college or University News Service. MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (01/31/2013) —Childhood obesity prevention, food safety practices for immigrant farmers and a study of how cruciferous vegetables affect tumors in mice are among the topics funded through a new series of eight grants from the University of Minnesota's Healthy Foods, Healthy Lives Institute. One set of grants involves partnerships between university researchers and community groups; the other group involves researchers from across the university. All of the roughly $50,000 grants are aimed at funding start-up projects that will have a significant impact on food, health and agriculture. The projects include: "Next Steps," a follow-up to an earlier family-centered obesity prevention program, "Taking Steps Together." In the next phase, researchers will work with community leaders and the Windom Community Center, a predominantly Spanish-speaking Latino population in South Minneapolis, to address obesity management through participating in activities like cooking, gardening and physical activity. A project aimed at developing healthier menu options for traditionally prepared Mexican foods at Twin Cities restaurants and assessing consumer acceptance of the new recipes.