Food Bank For New York City held a nutrition education summit for teens in Harlem with surprise celebrity guests Keke Palmer, TV host and first African-American star of the Broadway show “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella,” and Brook Lopez, NBA All-Star center for the Brooklyn Nets. The event was in support of Food Bank For New York City’s Change One Thing initiative, a social campaign that aims to guide teens toward healthier choices by changing just one thing in their diet at a time.

Keke Palmer

“Through the Change One Thing initiative, Food Bank For New York City is able to successfully communicate with New York City students about the importance of healthy eating and the impact of positive choices in dietary selections,” said Margarette Purvis, President and CEO of  Food Bank for New York City. “With the support of high-profile celebrities such as Keke Palmer and Brook Lopez, students can better relate to the message and understand that good nutrition is truly a lifelong goal.”

Held at the Opportunity Charter School in Harlem, roughly 25 students were preselected to attend based on their enrollment in the Opportunity Charter School’s culinary program, demonstrating a passion for maintaining a healthy, balanced diet. During the event, celebrities shared their healthy eating tips, and students made a pledge to commit to live healthier by making one healthy choice at a time.

In early September, Food Bank For New York City launched the Change One Thing Back-to-School Tour, a social awareness and marketing campaign that helps guide teens toward healthier choices without breaking their budget or radically changing their diet. Students will learn about important topics like sports nutrition, super foods, how to avoid diet-related diseases, and more.

Additional information about Food Bank For New York City and Change One Thing can be found at www.FoodBankNYC.org. Continue the conversation on Twitter and Instagram using the handle @FoodBank4NYC and hashtags #ChangeOneThing and #EATWISE.