Celebrating local healthy Asian and Pacific Islander cuisine Increasing access to healthy dining options in San Diego through small food industry businesses San Diego, CA – In celebration of National Nutrition Month’s theme of “Enjoying the Taste of Eating Right”, thirteen local Asian and Pacific Islander (API) restaurants in San Diego will present their best practices and lessons learned as they shift their businesses to healthier dining options through a press conference scheduled on March 26 th , 2014, 10 am – 12 noon at the administrative office of Operation Samahan at 1428 Highland Avenue, National City, CA 91950.

These thirteen restaurants, from the City of San Diego, El Cajon, National City, Spring Valley, Mira Mesa, and Chula Vista, are members of the STRIVE (Strategies to Research and Implement the Vision of Health Equity) San Diego network, a collaboration of API community-based organizations committed to addressing health disparities within and among API communities in San Diego.

STRIVE San Diego focuses on risk factors, like nutrition and weight management, by connecting with local small business API restaurants to offer healthier food choices and nutrition labeling. With rates of overweight, obesity, and diabetes increasing and becoming urgent public health concerns, STRIVE San Diego and its participating restaurants are finding innovative ways to increase the access to healthier dining options. Media representatives, government officials, community leaders, other restaurant owners, and the public are encouraged to attend this press conference, which will also provide information about and experiences of participating in STRIVE San Diego as well as food samples from the partner restaurants.

STRIVE San Diego, a project of Operation Samahan, Inc. was one of fifteen community-based organizations chosen nationwide by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Community Health to carry out a high-impact, population-wide project. Funded through Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH), the national initiative aims to eliminate racial and ethnic gaps in health, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

“I would like this project to have more funds to help more restaurants do more nutrition analysis… I know a lot of people want to [eat healthy] more but sometimes it’s hard for them to make decisions on what to eat” said Gayle Sayyadeth, the owner of Finest Thai restaurant.

About Operation Samahan, Inc. Operation
Samahan has served San Diego County since 1973 and aims to promote better health and living conditions for all persons in the community, especially among indigent, low-income, uninsured, and underserved individuals and families. Operation Samahan provides high-quality, affordable, and culturally accessible medical and dental care, health promotion, and social services. LINK to STRIVE FLYER: http://tinypic.com/r/xpvnmq/8