H-E-B to Improve Health of Texans

SAN ANTONIO — Cities and towns across the Lone Star State are facing off to see which can have the most profound effect on health in their community.

It’s all part of The Healthy at H-E-B Community Challenge, one of several actions sponsored by the H.E. Butt Grocery Co. to help make Texas the healthiest state.

H-E-B was already changing the health habits of store employees and shoppers with “Healthy at H-E-B,” a program launched earlier this year to provide tips on eating right, exercising and smart shopping. But to make an even bigger splash it decided to rally members of the community at large.

Through Oct. 31, individuals, schools, businesses and community leaders will log their healthy actions and earn points for their community on www.HEBcommunitychallenge.com. The competition kicked off Sept. 1.

“In Texas we have a lot of health concerns and in order to make a real change, entities have to come together; that includes us, a supermarket, but also schools, businesses and local government,” said Kate Rogers, vice president of partner communications and engagement for H-E-B.

The Community Challenge was developed by Active Life, the parent organization of It’s Time Texas, a grassroots campaign to transform Texas into the healthiest state.

Read more: H-E-B Gears Up for New Fitness Contest

H-E-B is the lead founding ally of It’s Time Texas and the Healthy at H-E-B Community Challenge, meaning it’s made a three-year financial commitment to the cause and has pledged marketing and employee support, according to Baker Harrell, founder and chief executive officer of Active Life.

“H-E-B’s leadership is challenging the Texas corporate community to support the cause,” Harrell said.

Challenge participants earn points in a number of ways, many of which encourage broader participation. For instance:

• A community’s mayor earns 500 points for its town by uploading a video to the contest website, in which he or she challenges a rival mayor to take the It’s Time Texas Pledge. Pledge takers earn 250 points for committing to issuing a press release declaring support for the challenge, and encouraging the adoption of policies that promote health throughout the community.

• Schools, businesses and organizations earn 100 points for creating a healthy project like a family fitness night or a school garden, and 200 points for partnering with a fellow community organization to create a project.

• Individuals earn 10 points by recording a healthy activity as part of H-E-B’s Ready, Set, Move! Challenge.

Part of Healthy at H-E-B, the Ready, Set, Move! Challenge encourages shoppers to log at least 150 minutes of exercise each week during an eight-week period that runs through Oct. 28.

Participants must set their basal metabolic rate and track their activity on the Ready, Set, Move! tracker at www.heb.com/page/healthy-at-heb/ready-set-move-challenge. One entry in a random drawing is earned each week that 150 minutes of exercise are completed. The grand prize is a 12-month gym membership and a fitness package valued at $1,000.