The Go! 5-2-1-0 Initiative Encourages Health in all Policies

A decade ago, the Coalition for Healthy Kids representing a diverse group of Danbury community stakeholders agreed to promote a universal health message that would encourage families to make healthier food choices and incorporate daily physical activity.

“Eat 5 fruits and vegetables daily, 2 hours or less of recreational screen time, 1 hour of physical activity daily, and 0 sugary drinks.”

This effort was initially promoted to slow rising childhood obesity rates but now is adopted to improve health for youth and adults in our communities for the prevention of obesity and chronic disease.

In 2019 and 2020, thanks to the Anthem Foundation and their continued support, more than 45,000 residents of Greater Danbury are a part of this initiative including schools, childcare centers, afterschool programs, workplaces, and healthcare centers. The initiative strives to promote health in all policies so that the healthy choice is the easy choice. Partnering agencies care that healthy food options are served, increased access to fruits and vegetables, more water and less sugary drinks consumed, limits on screen time are in place and opportunities where children and families can be more active are planned and promoted.

The Initiative promotes the adoption of these health behaviors through social marketing strategies that include large murals promoting the message in schools, refrigerator magnets distributed by physicians and healthcare providers, school garden education programs, walk to school days, support for breastfeeding, family and youth programs and the implementation of strong health policies by community organizations that serve families.  The Y childcare and summer camp programs now also routinely incorporate this philosophy and messaging into the daily programming.