Shine a Light: Fighting Fat

Right now, government statistics show about 32 percent of children and adolescents — 25 million young people — are obese or overweight. Those extra pounds put children at a greater risk of developing diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

Long before first lady Michelle Obama launched her Let’s Move program, Erica Simon has been a foot soldier in the battle against childhood obesity.

For 29 years she’s been a nutrition educator with the LSU AgCenter, sharing programs through the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program, a program that helps low-income families understand the benefits of good nutrition.

Because of her hard work and dedication, she was the New Orleans Educator for the Year in 2006 and was honored with a Diversity Award.

Erica’s raised three children. Her oldest son is following in her footsteps.  He has a master’s in public health and is in medical school doing an internship in Lafayette. Her youngest son is attending Tulane where he is studying homeland security, and her daughter has graced her with two beautiful grandchildren.

Besides bringing nutritional education to families, Erica also volunteers much of her free time giving back to her community. Erica volunteers at North Rampart Community Center where she helps kids with homework and serves, of course, healthy snacks. She also ushers at Progressive Word Baptist Church and feeds the needy through a church program.

“She is undoubtedly the most genuine person I know,” says Beth Gambel, who’s worked with Erica for almost 30 years. “She’s honest and hardworking, and all she ever wants is to see people succeed. She’s a breath of fresh air.”

Recently, Erica’s good karma paid off: She became the owner of a two-bedroom home. She was a participant in the Samaritan’s Purse Neighborhood Rebuild Project in New Orleans. Franklin Avenue Baptist Church and Billy Graham sponsor this program, and now all she pays each month is her escrow payment.

“I put in 120 hours of sweat equity every Saturday, and now I have this wonderful house, “ she says. “God blessed me, nobody but God.”

Erica’s pleased that more people and organizations are joining the fight against obesity, and she remains passionate about her mission. “Things are very bad in Louisiana,” she says. “Our kids are eating too much food that is high in saturated fat, cholesterol, sugar and sodium, but I love working with my clients helping them change their eating habits, motivating them and encouraging them to do better.”

Shine a Light with Pamela Marquis illuminates the stories of those people who need a little recognition for the many ways they make New Orleans the best place in the world to live.

 

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