VNA Health Care, city of Aurora partner on FreshFirst program at Aurora Farmers Market
VNA Health Care and the city of Aurora are partnering again on Fresh First, a program introduced last year at the Aurora Farmers Market to promote healthy eating.
Fresh First is a fun way for children to learn about the health benefits of eating fresh produce. It gives both children and adults the opportunity to try new vegetables and fruits, and to pledge to try their best to eat healthy.
Everyone is welcome to visit the FreshFirst booth at Aurora's Farmers Market on Saturdays. Anyone who takes advantage of the free samples of the fruit or vegetable of the week and fruit-infused water will receive an "I Got FRESH Today!" sticker to show their commitment to healthier eating habits. Visitors can also pick up free recipes using the fresh produce available at the market.
"We are excited about this partnership with city of Aurora and hope to inspire everyone who visits our booth at Aurora's Farmers Market to try new fruits and vegetables and look for ways to incorporate these healthy choices into their everyday diet," said Ann Cheverton, vice president of care coordination and clinical innovation at VNA Health Care.
Through a U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Insecurity and Nutrition Incentives grant and a Fit for Kids grant through the Kane County Health Department, VNA is able to offer a free FreshFirst program to patients.
Targeted patients include children, pregnant women, and breast-feeding mothers.
Participants in the grant-funded program receive a weekly prescription for fruits and vegetables worth $10 to redeem at any of Aurora's Farmers Markets, including a small "Pop-Up" market from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays, July 8 to Sept. 30, at VNA, 400 N. Highland Ave. in Aurora.
The patients also receive free group education and cooking demonstrations offered in VNA's Healthy Lifestyle Center and Kitchen at 400 N. Highland Ave. in Aurora. Through education, a meal log, monitoring and family support, participants are encouraged to change their eating habits and learn to enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables as part of their diet. VNA tracks their patient's weights and measurements throughout their participation in the program.
The Fresh First program benefits the Aurora community by nourishing the consumer, boosting farmers' revenue and supporting the overall health of our community. In 2014, the program was named "A Friend of the Industry" by the Illinois Office of the Comptroller for its dedication to the field of Agri-Tourism. Through partnerships such as Fresh First, VNA Health Care demonstrates our commitment to providing health services to meet the unique needs in the communities we serve.
VNA Health Care provides affordable health care to over 59,600 women, men and children living primarily in Kane, DuPage, and Will counties. VNA runs nine community health centers and is nationally ranked as a top performing health center as a result of patient outcomes such as high quality prenatal care, control of diabetes, and up-to-date immunizations for children. VNA's combination of convenience (by appointment or walk-in), patient-centered technology and expert care delivered with respect and compassion have led to these results. VNA Health Care is also dedicated to providing compassionate, dependable, and comprehensive care in the home through VNA Home Health, VNA HouseCalls, and VNA Hospice. VNA is accredited by The Joint Commission. For information about VNA, call (630) 978-2532 or visit www.vnahealth.com.
The Aurora Farmers Market is the oldest farmers market in Illinois. The market offers fresh produce, specialty food products, artisan crafts, and more. For information on Aurora's Farmers Market, visit www.aurora-il.org or call (630) 256-INFO (4636).