California Soda Tax

Last Thursday Democratic Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez introduced a bill to the California Legislature proposing a statewide soft drink syrup tax. The goal of the bill is to fight the increasing costs of obesity in the State of California. If passed beverages like soda and energy drinks would increase in price by a penny per ounce, producing estimated earnings of $1.7 billion annually, according to the California Board of Equalization. Money produced by the bill would be directed towards educational programs and nonprofits focused on fighting health risks associated with obesity. If the bill passes legislation, California voters will see it on the 2012 ballot.

View the Entire Bill Proposal Here http://www.boe.ca.gov/legdiv/sptleg/pdf/sb1520-1cwfinal.pdf

Healthy Inspiration

We all know that maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle is important, but we often don’t incorporate it into our daily lives. It is easy to set aside working out and preparing healthy meals due to the daily tasks we all have to juggle. But, where there's will there is a way. At SOSMentor we have found that in order to start making changes towards a healthier lifestyle it is easiest when you have some sort of inspiration. Below is a list of motivational thoughts and ideas to keep you pumped about working out and eating healthy!

-Set Goals: Maybe you want to run in your cities next marathon or fit into a new pair of skinny jeans. Whatever it is, keep track of your progress and soon enough you will be reaching your goals!

-Make it Fun: Workout with friends or play your favorite sport. By incorporating activities you enjoy into your fitness routine, you won’t even realize that you are working at all!

-Cook at Home: Preparing meals at home is not only healthier than dining out, but it can also be significantly cheaper. Buying produce at the market for an entire meal is considerably less than a $10.00 meal at a restaurant. Most people, who dread cooking, then begin to try it out find it enjoyable and will often make it a hobby. 

-Write Down Your Progress: Keep track of how you feel before, during and after you exercise. Regular exercise has proven to reduce stress, lower depression, manage weight, and even combats chronic disease. 

-Think of those who are Important to You: Your spouse, children and friends can be a great motivation to stay physically active.  By maintaining a healthy lifestyle you can be an inspiration to them. Before you know it your family and friends will take steps towards a healthy life.  

Only 3 days until Music of the Night!!

Davis Gaines performing the title role in Phantom of the Opera.

Time flies!!  Our major event is only 3 days away and everyone at SOSMentor is working hard to ensure a wonderful evening for all of our friends and supporters!

"Music of the Night, an Evening with Davis Gaines" is THIS SATURDAY at the Alex Theater in Glendale!  There are still tickets available through www.alextheatre.org and a limited number of VIP tickets through the SOSMentor office. 

Davis was recently on "State of the Arts" on LATalkRadio and gave a wonderful interview about his work and our event.  You can listen to it here.

Saturday will definitely be a night to remember! We hope you enjoy the show!

USDA releases new Dietary Guidelines for Americans!

Because more than one-third of children and two-thirds of adults in the United States are overweight or obese, the USDA has released has released its 7th edition of Dietary Guidelines for Americans.  The new version takes a stab at addressing our obesity crisis by placing a stronger emphasis on reducing calorie consumption and increasing physical activity. The Guidelines contain 23 Key Recommendations for the general population and 6 Key Recommendations for specific population groups, such as women who are pregnant.  The Recommendations are the most important messages within the Guidelines and are intended as an integrated set of advice to achieve an overall healthy eating pattern.

Some of the new tips are as follows:

• Enjoy your food, but eat less.
• Avoid oversized portions.
• Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.
• Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk
• Compare sodium in foods like soup, bread and frozen meals– and chose the foods with lower numbers.
• Drink water instead of sugary drinks.

It seems like the USDA is headed in the right direction with their new recommendations.  At SOSMentor, we are already teaching these messages to our students.  The release of this edition of the Dietary Guidelines comes at a critical point for America’s health and prosperity.  We are in the middle of an obesity epidemic and by adopting the USDA’s new recommendations, we can live healthier lives and contribute to a lowering of health-care costs, helping to strengthen America’s long-term economic competitiveness and overall productivity.