GLENDALE, Calif., July 3 /PRNewswire/ — Nestle(R) Juicy Juice(R) announced today the return of last year’s successful junior soccer tournament, Copita Juicy Juice. This year, the event will tour Dallas and Los Angeles over the summer, and include the participation of over 600 children and more than 48 local soccer teams in the two cities. Claudia Gonzalez, registered dietitian and author of Gordito Doesn’t Mean Healthy, also returns to Dallas and Los Angeles as part of a national campaign to promote a healthy lifestyle this summer.
A recent article published by EFE world news shows that the world’s obesity/overweight rates are surpassing malnutrition and hunger for the first time in history, with 1.7 billion people who are overweight (out of which 300 million are obese) vs. 850 million people who are victims of hunger. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over the past three decades the childhood obesity rate has more than doubled for preschool children aged 2-5 years and more than tripled for children aged 6-11 years. Data from the CDC’s 2005 survey also showed that the prevalence of being overweight was higher among Hispanic (16.8 percent) than African American (16.0 percent) and white (11.8 percent) children. To reduce these alarming rates, it is important to educate families on how to establish and follow good fitness and nutrition habits.
In a study published by the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine in June 2008, researchers found that “one hundred percent juice consumption was associated with better nutrient intake than in the non-consumption group and was not associated with weight status or the likelihood of being overweight in children 2 to 11 years of age.”
“One simple way to help reduce obesity rates and promote a healthy lifestyle is to increase your fruit and vegetable intake,” said Victoria Nuevo-Celeste, Nestle Juicy Juice Marketing Manager. “Nestle Juicy Juice products are made from 100% juice with no added sugars, sweeteners, preservatives or artificial flavors, and they provide children with important nutrients to grow healthy and strong. We are excited to expand the Copita Juicy Juice junior soccer tournament to two cities this year, and encourage fitness and good nutrition among Hispanic families.”
Based on the Food Pyramid created by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 2005, 6 oz. of Nestle Juicy Juice provides one serving from the Fruit Group and is an excellent source of vitamin C. The USDA also recommends making smart choices from every food group and finding a balance between food and physical activity as the best tools to prevent obesity, as well as a number of other diseases.
“The school break has started for most children in the U.S., and the hot summer months ahead mark the perfect time for people to be out and eat lighter, healthier meals,” said Claudia Gonzalez, Nutritionist and Health Expert. “When being outdoors at the beach or the park, Hispanic families should opt for healthy and simple snack options that are true to their culture and nutritious to their bodies, like cut watermelon and strawberries, or jicama sticks with a little lime juice and chili powder. To quench your children’s thirst, offer them water and 100% fruit juices, like Juicy Juice.”
Nestle Juicy Juice partnered once again with the Hispanic soccer Alliance to offer the communities in Dallas and Los Angeles fun and healthy events for their children. Copita Juicy Juice will allow junior soccer leagues to participate in a friendly environment and promote exercise and healthy habits among Hispanics in the U.S.
Copita Juicy Juice will take place Saturday, July 5 and Sunday, July 6 at Richland College in Dallas; and on Saturday, August 30 and Sunday, August 31 at Heartwell Park in Long Beach, California.
About Nestle USA
Named one of “America’s Most Admired Food Companies” in Fortune magazine for the eleventh consecutive year, Nestle USA provides quality brands and products that bring flavor to life every day. From nutritious meals with Lean Cuisine(R) to great beverages, such as Nestle(R) JUICY JUICE(R), Nestle USA makes delicious, convenient, and nutritious food and beverage products that enrich the very experience of life itself. That’s what “Nestle. Good Food, Good Life” is all about. Nestle USA, with 2007 sales of $8.25 billion, is part of Nestle S.A. in Vevey, Switzerland — the world’s largest food company - with sales of $90 billion. For product news and information, visit Nestleusa.com or NestleNewsroom.com.
For more information, please contact:
Tania Llavaneras
(323) 202-1418 office
(323) 203-4501 cell
Nestle Juicy Juice