We here at Sip & Savor are celebrating five years of Let’s Move! and answering First Lady Michelle Obama’s challenge to #GimmeFive things the beverage industry has done since the start of the anti-obesity campaign to help children lead a healthier life.
1 – In 2010, in an effort to combat childhood obesity our member companies announced the Clear on Calories Initiative. With this voluntary commitment we have empowered consumers to make the choices that are right for them and their families by placing clear calorie information on the front of every bottle, can and pack we produce.
2 - The Calories Count™ Beverage Vending Program, which launched in 2013 in municipal buildings in the cities of Chicago and San Antonio, offers consumers clear calorie information, encourages lower-calorie beverage choices and reminds them that calories count in all the choices they make. On the front of vending machines, Calories Count™ signs include one of the following messages: "Check Then Choose" or "Try A Low–Calorie Beverage." The selection buttons also include calorie labels that show calorie counts per beverage container.
3 – For not only five, but 10 years, we have worked to reduce calories from beverages for children through our School Beverage Guidelines. In this time we have removed full-calorie soft drinks from schools and cut overall calories from beverages in schools by 90 percent.
4 – Just last year, in partnership with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation and the Clinton Global Initiative, we launched our Balance Calories Initiative. Through this initiative our member companies will leverage their marketing, innovation and distribution strengths to increase interest in and access to smaller portion sizes, water and no- and lower-calorie beverages. We are also expanding our labeling initiatives by providing calorie counts on more than 3 million beverage company-controlled point-of-sale equipment nationwide.
5 – Along with the Balance Calories Initiative, The Coca-Cola Company, Dr Pepper Snapple Group and PepsiCo came together to launch a first-of-its kind national consumer awareness and engagement program - Mixify™ - encouraging teens and their families to balance their calories by moderating what they eat, drink and do.
While a lot has happened in five years, we know that there is still a lot of work to be done and we look forward to continuing to be a part of Let’s Move! for years to come. Now it’s your turn, #GimmeFive and let us know what you have done to achieve a balanced lifestyle.