Metro Parks Tacoma Free Summer Meal Program
Like many park districts around the country, Metro Parks Tacoma, Tacoma, Washington’s park district, partners with the USDA to offer a Free Summer Meal Program for children. However, in many areas, the meals provided by park districts barely meet USDA nutritional standards. Setting itself apart, Metro Parks Tacoma has gone a step further in partnering with Subway Restaurants to not only feed children, but feed them healthy, nutritional meals that exceed the nutritional standards.
“While ensuring children have food to eat is a vital first step, what we are feeding them is even more important,” says Shon Sylvia, director of recreation and community services, Metro Parks Tacoma. “We made the decision to invest more in the summer food program to express our commitment to the health and well-being of our community. It’s great having Subway Restaurants in our parks.”
To support this partnership, Metro Parks Tacoma will distribute SUBWAY® FRESH Fit for Kids® meals, developed to fit into the American Heart Association’s approach to a healthy lifestyle. These meals are intended to fill the nutrition gap and ensure children get the meals they need as part of the MPT annual Summer Playground program. Subway® Restaurants will supply fresh, healthy meals – including grains, vegetables, fruits, lean protein and dairy items.
Metro Parks Tacoma (MPT) distributes SUBWAY® FRESH Fit for Kids® meals, developed to fit into the American Heart Association’s approach to a healthy lifestyle, and offers fun, recreational opportunities to help keep kids active and healthy throughout the summer. This is the first initiative of its kind in Washington state, and while the goal for MPT is to offer healthy food and enjoyable recreational activities for kids, the agency is also hoping to influence other parks departments around the country to follow their lead in an effort to fight against childhood obesity on a national level.
Visit Metro Parks Tacoma’s website to learn more about their Free Summer Meal Program and Summer Playground Program!
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