Resource for youth & adults. Nutrition and exercise can reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

What is CHAMPION?

• CHAMPION is the acronym for Community Health Aerobic Motivational Program Initiating Optimal Nutrition.
• CHAMPION is a series of lessons designed around making better food choices and adopting a physical activity regime for a healthier life.
• Lessons increase knowledge in nutrition terminology, food labels, understanding health diagnosis, and health literacy.

What is the goal of CHAMPION?

• CHAMPION is designed to improve eating habits and increase physical activity of school-age children and adults of all ages.
• The program focuses on people with limited resources living in urban areas that are at high risk for chronic diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer.

Content below reflects the text in the graphics of the video:

1. 6 of 10 US adults have chronic disease.
2. Chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, are the leading cause of death in US>
3. CHAMPION reduces risk factors by improving eating habits, increasing physical activity, and expanding health knowledge.
4. CHAMPION lessons break down nutrition terminology and decode food labels.
5. CHAMPION increases health literacy for a better understanding of health diagnosis.
6. Become a CHAMPION for health. Contact your county Extension office to schedule a CHAMPION session.

Benefits of CHAMPION

• Increase consumption of healthy foods: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat or fat-free dairy products, and lean protein foods.
• Reduce consumption of foods high in fat, sugar and salt.
• Read & understand Nutrition Facts on food labels.
• Reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
• Increase health literacy to better understand and manage health.
• Increase physical activity to 60 minutes, 5 days a week for youth and 30 minutes, 5 days a week for adults.
• Learn strategies to maintain a healthy weight.

Youth

Requirements

1. Participate in six interactive lessons with our Extension agents.
2. Complete a pre/post questionnaire and assessment.

Youth Lessons

• iChoose MyPlate: A representation of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans with a focus on portion control and the five food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy
• iChoose a Variety of Food: Reinforces MyPlate by explaining nutrients, balance, variety and moderation.
• iChoose to Move: Introduction of physical activity classes to increase movement and duration. Youth are challenged to create an exercise routine.
• iChoose to Eat Healthy: Demonstrates the effects of fats, sugars, and sodium on the body.
• iChoose to Read My Labels: An exploration of the Nutrition Facts Label to help you understand content within a food product.

Adult

Requirements

1. Participate in seven interactive lessons with our Extension agents.
2. Complete a pre/post questionnaire and assessment, a 24-hour recall, and an evaluation.
3. Weigh-in before and after the program.

Lessons

• iChoose Nutrition: A representation of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans with a focus on portion control and the five food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy
• iChoose to Read the Labels: An exploration of the Nutrition Facts Label to help you understand content within a food product to make healthier choices.
• iChoose to Move: Introduction of physical activity classes to increase movement & duration.
• iChoose Good Health: Focus on 1) prevention and intervention of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases and 2) understanding and communicating health information.

Contact Us

Alabama Extension serves all 67 Alabama counties. If your county isn’t listed below, contact the nearest county on the list or the program Specialist in the State Office.

State Office – Health and Nutrition Specialist, Tamara Warren
Office: (256) 372-4981 Email: tcw0004@aces.edu

State Office – Health and Nutrition Project Coordinator, Shanetria Brown
Office: (256) 372-4942 Email: skb0050@aces.edu

MyPlate: CHAMPION uses the USDA MyPlate tool to help illustrate food choice and portion size concepts. www.choosemyplate.gov