Health educator says it’s time to lay off sugary drinks at work
NORWICH – Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chenango County has implemented a new program that works with Eat Smart New York to encourage community organizations to reduce the availability of sugary drinks available to employees.
A state grant of $30,000 was made available for the “Don’t Drink Your Sugar” program. Funding was awarded to the Cornell Cooperative Extension through the New York State Healthy Heart Program in January and additional funds were made available through an amendment in the New York Community Gardens Project Grant to help educators carry out their mission.
Sugary Drink Educator and Program Coordinator Jacky Knoll-Carr has been closely working with Eat Smart educators, visiting local employers, agencies and school districts to discuss the effects of sugary drinks to a daily diet. The goal, she said, is to have organizations and their employees look for drink alternatives other than what’s available in the soda machine.
“People are often surprised by just how much sugar is in some of those drinks. They just don’t think there could possibly be that much,” said Knoll-Carr. She added that even caffeine-free sodas, sports drinks and diet sodas have excessive amounts of sugar or artificial sweeteners. “We know this stuff is heavily marketed,” she said. “There are other adverse studies that show what aspartame can do to the digestive system.”
While discouraging the intake of sugary drinks, educators are encouraging the consumption of water and flavored seltzer waters. They also promote 100 percent juices, but warn that such beverages should be consumed in moderation because of the natural sugars they contain.
Terms of the Don’t Drink Your Sugar Program require that at least ten agencies commit to limiting the amount of sugary drinks currently available. These agencies will get $600 worth of material including drinks and flavoring in place of sodas and other sugary beverages. According to Knoll-Carr, 22 presentations have been made to different organizations throughout the county thus far and the program is on the right track to meeting its mandates. Some organizations have already jumped on board, including Opportunities for Chenango, Unison, Catholic Charities, Golden Artist Colors and the Cornell Cooperative Extension.
“We have had a couple of businesses that turned us down, but I still remain optimistic that we will meet our goal,” Knoll-Carr said.
The Don’t Drink Your Sugar Program will be active through the end of March. Organizations interested in the program should contact Knoll-Carr at 334-5841 x14 or via email, jmk462@cornell.edu by March 15.
A state grant of $30,000 was made available for the “Don’t Drink Your Sugar” program. Funding was awarded to the Cornell Cooperative Extension through the New York State Healthy Heart Program in January and additional funds were made available through an amendment in the New York Community Gardens Project Grant to help educators carry out their mission.
Sugary Drink Educator and Program Coordinator Jacky Knoll-Carr has been closely working with Eat Smart educators, visiting local employers, agencies and school districts to discuss the effects of sugary drinks to a daily diet. The goal, she said, is to have organizations and their employees look for drink alternatives other than what’s available in the soda machine.
“People are often surprised by just how much sugar is in some of those drinks. They just don’t think there could possibly be that much,” said Knoll-Carr. She added that even caffeine-free sodas, sports drinks and diet sodas have excessive amounts of sugar or artificial sweeteners. “We know this stuff is heavily marketed,” she said. “There are other adverse studies that show what aspartame can do to the digestive system.”
While discouraging the intake of sugary drinks, educators are encouraging the consumption of water and flavored seltzer waters. They also promote 100 percent juices, but warn that such beverages should be consumed in moderation because of the natural sugars they contain.
Terms of the Don’t Drink Your Sugar Program require that at least ten agencies commit to limiting the amount of sugary drinks currently available. These agencies will get $600 worth of material including drinks and flavoring in place of sodas and other sugary beverages. According to Knoll-Carr, 22 presentations have been made to different organizations throughout the county thus far and the program is on the right track to meeting its mandates. Some organizations have already jumped on board, including Opportunities for Chenango, Unison, Catholic Charities, Golden Artist Colors and the Cornell Cooperative Extension.
“We have had a couple of businesses that turned us down, but I still remain optimistic that we will meet our goal,” Knoll-Carr said.
The Don’t Drink Your Sugar Program will be active through the end of March. Organizations interested in the program should contact Knoll-Carr at 334-5841 x14 or via email, jmk462@cornell.edu by March 15.
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