Health & Nutrition
Resource for youth and 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.
- 6 of 10 US adults have chronic disease.
- Chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, are the leading cause of death in US.
- CHAMPION reduces risk factors by improving eating habits, increasing physical activity, and expanding health knowledge.
- CHAMPION lessons break down nutrition terminology and decode food labels.
- CHAMPION increases health literacy for a better understanding of health diagnosis.
- Become a CHAMPION for health. Contact your county Extension office to schedule a CHAMPION session.
Benefits of CHAMPION
- Increase consumption of healthy foods like 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 and 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
- Participate in six interactive lessons with our Extension agents.
- 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
- Participate in seven interactive lessons with our Extension agents.
- Complete a pre/post questionnaire and assessment, a 24-hour recall, and an evaluation.
- 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 and 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 state office.
State Office – Tamara Warren, Assistant Director for Urban Human Nutrition, Diet, & Health & Federal Nutrition Programs
Office: (256) 372-4981 Email: tcw0004@aces.edu
Urban Centers - CHAMPION Program
| City | Office | Educator | Phone Number | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | Madison County Extension | (205) 612-7204 | ||
| Guntersville | Marshall County Extension | Juani Christian | (256) 582-2009 | maciaju@aces.edu |
| Dothan | Houston County Extension | (334) 794-4108 | tjd0061@aces.edu |
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MyPlate: CHAMPION uses the USDA MyPlate tool to help illustrate food choice and portion size concepts. www.choosemyplate.gov