Let’s Go Central Coast

Helping kids and families eat healthy,
be active, and make better choices every day.

About 5210+

Since 2014, the newly revised and expanded 5210+ Program of Santa Cruz County.  5210+ is now more relevant and accessible than ever before and is in elementary classrooms in Santa Cruz City, Live Oak, Pajaro Valley and San Lorenzo Valley School Districts. This is due to the tremendous investment of our community benefit partners the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Stanford Children's Health, the Santa Cruz County Medical Society, and Second Harvest Food Bank.

Healthy eating and active living gets to the heart of this program. 5210+ is about helping to improve the health of children and their families to encourage children and families to eat fruits and vegetables, participate in active play, reduce screen time and eliminate consumption of sugary beverages, plus be well rested and encourage families to begin with breastfeeding.  The plus sign has been added to the brand in order that the program may continue to evolve as science and evidence-based research offers new information in support of program goals.

5210+ is geared towards 4th-6th grade students who learn how to lead active and healthy lives through 30 minute lessons provided over 4 weeks. Each week after their lessons, students are provided the opportunity to "shop" from local and seasonal produce generously donated by Second Harvest Food Bank. After each day's lessons have ended, the entire school is invited to pick up whatever produce they like in a "5210+ Farmer's Market". All produce is given to your child in an effort to foster a love for healthy eating.

We know it's important to have consistent messages where you live, learn, work, and play. So we partner with doctors, teachers, child care providers, and community organizations to share the same healthy habits of the 5210+ program every day.

5
fruits and veggies
2
hours or less of recreational screen time
1
hour of physical activity
0
sugary drinks, more water and low-fat milk
+
sleep well
+
begin with breastfeeding

5 or more servings of fruits & vegetables

2 hours or less of recreational screen time

1 hour of physical activity

0 sugary drinks, more water and low-fat milk

+ sleep well and begin with breastfeeding

5210+ Goal: Reduce Obesity 10%.

Reducing obesity 10% was first envisioned by the leadership of the Second Harvest Food Bank and adopted by the Santa Cruz County Medical Society and Foundation in 2013.  It was then adopted by the United Way of Santa Cruz's' Go for Health! Collaborative at its Go for Health Relaunch in 2014 when more than 50 community organizations came together in support of a community wide new strategic vision.

5-2-1-0 History

5-2-1-0 was born in the Greater Portland area of Maine in 2006 when the 5210 Let's Go! Program was founded. It is a nationally recognized childhood obesity prevention program that is designed to reach children and families where they live, learn, work, and play. The 5-2-1-0 message is used across these settings to educate children and families about healthy eating and active living.

In 2008, Go For Health of Santa Cruz adopted the 5210 social marketing campaign. 5-2-1-0 is a simple, evidence-based, efective, and easily remembered method of promoting a healthy lifestyle. The foundation of the program was build around 10 Strategies for Success to create supportive environments and policies to help children and families successfully achieve the 5-2-1-0 recommendations. Those 10 Strategies for Success were established as follows.

  1. Provide healthy choices for snacks and celebrations; limit unhealthy choices.
  2. Provide water and low-fat milk; limit or eliminate sugary beverages.
  3. Provide non-food rewards.
  4. Provide opportunities for children to get physical activity every day.
  5. Limit recreational screen time.
  6. Participate in local, state, and national initiatives that support healthy eating and active living.
  7. Engage community partners to help support healthy eating and active living at your site.
  8. Partner with and educate families in adopting and maintaining a lifestyle that supports healthy eacting and active living.
  9. Implement a staff wellness program that includes healthy eating and active living.
  10. Collaborate with food and nutrition programs to offer health food and beverage options.