An EKU Public Relations and Health class will work with the Lexington field team of the national nonprofit Seafood Nutrition Partnership (SNP) this semester as part of a class project.
Guided by Dr. Kathy Previs, associate professor in the Department of Communication, students will spread the public health education message of the nutritional benefits of a seafood-rich diet among their classmates, friends and families.
As part of the project, the class will participate in EKU’s annual health fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 23, in the Powell Building. Students will collect signatures of individuals taking the Healthy Heart Pledge (www.seafoodnutrition.org/healthy-heart-pledge) and distribute educational information, seafood recipes and free samples of canned tuna.
Those taking the pledge are encouraged to share it on Twitter and Instagram (#Seafood2xWkLEX).
“The USDA dietary guidelines recommend eating seafood twice a week for optimal health, yet only one in 10 Americans follow this advice,” said Previs. “We hope to inspire a healthier student body, and a healthier Kentucky, by promoting a nutrient-rich diet that includes seafood.”
The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association recommend eating fish at least twice a week to lower the risk of death from coronary artery disease. The Lexington/Richmond area is one of eight U.S. areas targeted by SNP due to a high rate of cardiovascular disease.
The SNP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to inspire a healthier America through partnerships that raise awareness about the essential nutritional benefits of eating seafood. Through its educational efforts, the organization aims to help Americans gain the skills to select, order, and prepare fish and shellfish, and to inspire a healthier America by promoting a nutrient-rich diet that includes seafood. For more information, visit: www.seafoodnutrition.org.