Healthy Eating and Active Living
Healthy Eating and Active Living
Our mission is to promote healthy eating and physical activity, and access to nutritious food for Imperial County residents through nutrition education and community partnerships. Our goal is to create a community where everyone is healthy, active, and nourished.
Due to funding cuts outside of our control, the CalFresh Health Living Program will conclude on April 30, 2026. With the conclusion of the funding for this program, we are working to integrate nutrition services and activities into other public health programs so that parts of this work can continue. Our priority is to continue to support residents and partners by ensuring the availability of resources, tools and community networks that help make the healthy choice the easy choice.
Nutrition Education
Fueling your body right
Healthy eating is important for your health. Small changes in what you eat can help you feel better. The Imperial County Public Health Department (ICPHD) offers free programs that teach you how to eat healthy. The CalFresh Healthy Living Program (CFHL) helps people learn how good food choices can prevent health problems like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. The program is for people of all ages. Eating healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains helps you stay strong and feel good. CFHL teaches you easy ways to make better food choices.
Call the CFHL program today to set up a nutrition education session for yourself. You can also schedule a session for your family to learn about healthy eating together.
What we offer
Nutrition Education
Resources on how to educators can provide nutrition education
- Budgeting for Healthy Food
- Understanding food labels and recommended servings (Decoding Food Labels)
- Incorporating more fruits and vegetables in your meals (Discover Foods)
- Reducing sodium and sugar intake
Not So Sweet Sweet Side | CalFresh Healthy Living (English)
Rethink Your Drink
Sugary drinks provide the single largest source of added sugar in the American diet and may lead to obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and other chronic illnesses. (source: CDPH Encourages Californians to Rethink Your Drink) Consumption is especially high among children and teens. Sugary drinks are harming our children, if we don’t reverse this trend, the current generation of young people may be the first in American history to live with more sickness, and die younger, than their parents. Learn more about recipes on naturally flavored water below.
Recipes
Local Efforts
Imperial County has worked with schools, community organizations and government agencies to decrease access to sugary beverages and increase access to healthier beverages by implementing beverage standards in vending, procurement, and/or other policy, systems and/or environmental chan
The following sites have adopted/implemented a beverage standard:
Grace Smith Elementary School (August, 29 2024)
Imperial Valley Medical Clinic (September 25, 2024)
Fremont Elementary School (October 8, 2024)
Heber School District (September 25, 2024)
Seeley Elementary School (September 10, 2025)
Our Success Stories
Nutrition Resources
For our community members with diabetes, please contact the following:
Innercare:
Brawley: 760-344-6471
Calexico: 760-357-2020
El Centro: 760-352-2257
El Centro Medical Regional Center: 760-482-5000
Dairy Council of California Curriculum Our Products
Leah’s Pantry Home - Leah's Pantry
Physical Activity
Active living, stronger communities!
Building knowledge and support among local stakeholders to improve and promote active living.
Get Outside!
Environments can play a big role in physical activity. Assist in improving neighborhood environments to increase physical activity opportunities by asking for safe places in our community. Advocate for safe, well-lit walking and bike paths for our students. Your community counts on people like you to help make it better. Even small changes can make a big difference when it comes to creating a healthy community!
Learn how you can start the conversation!
How to a foster a Healthy Neighborhood
As you get involved, you need to decide what changes you want to see in your neighborhood. Here’s how:
Talk to your kids, family, neighbors, or coworkers. Find out what healthy changes they’d like to see happen in your community.
Decide what you want to do. Pick one thing that all of you want to change to help your community be healthier. Here are some examples:
Ask your store to offer quality fruits and vegetables at a low cost.
Start a local farmers’ market.
Work with your schools to get after-hours and weekend access to parks, play yards, and/or gyms.
Get healthier food items in your office vending machines or cafeteria.
Create a vision. Together with your team, write a clear statement that describes the change you would like to see. Here are some examples:
We want affordable fresh fruits and vegetables at our local store.
We want to see a farmers’ market in our neighborhood.
We want our children to have safe places to walk and play.
We want healthy snack options at work.
Make a plan to fulfill your vision. Write down the steps it will take to create the positive change you want to see.
Encourage others to join. Once you identify your vision and plan, involve others who can help.
Involve the community. Bring in other people—like community leaders, local business owners, and local government agencies—who can help you solve the problem.
Talk to decision-makers. If appropriate, let your community leaders know about the issue. Share your ideas and solutions with them. Let them know how they can help make these healthy changes happen.
Move, Groove, and Play—Right Inside!
School Activity Resources & Toolkits
Safety Routes to School (SRTS) Toolkit
https://www.saferoutesinfo.org/toolbox/#changinginfrastructure
Year-Round Walking & Rolling : Walk & Bike to School
From Walk & Roll to School Day to walking & rolling every day : Walk & Bike to School
Youth Engagement Toolkit
Youth Engagement Toolkit | CalFresh Healthy Living
Youth Engagement Initiative Training Binder Stepping Stones (2).pdf
WellSAT Toolkit & Local Wellness Policy
Local School Wellness Policy Implementation Tools and Resources | Food and Nutrition Service
Food Access
- Work with local pantries with the implementation of the Nutrition Pantry Program
- Assist schools with strategies to increase student participation in school meal programs
Food Access Resources
Our Partners
Community Obesity Prevention Alliance (COPA) is now the Priority Area 2 Workgroup
COPA, the Community Obesity Prevention Alliance, has been an important platform for addressing issues like nutrition, healthy eating, active living, and food insecurity in our community. The Imperial County Public Health Department is committed to supporting these initiatives and hopes to have everyone on board as we move forward through the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP).
Priority Area #2: Healthy and Safe Living is part of the 2024–2027 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), developed by the Imperial County Community Health Improvement Partnership through the Community Health Assessment (CHA) to better understand our community’s health. This priority area aligns with COPA’s mission by focusing on nutrition, active living, and food insecurity. To strengthen collaboration and avoid duplicating efforts, COPA’s work is being integrated into the Priority Area 2 Workgroup.
The workgroup focuses on improving access to nutritious foods and affordable, safe housing, while addressing environmental and economic factors that contribute to poor health outcomes.
To learn more or be part of these ongoing efforts, contact Jorge Torres, see contact information below.
For more information, visit this webpage Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP)