News and press releases

Left to right: Dr. Johanne Blais, family physician and an ACTI-MENU contributor; Mélanie Maynard, actress, TV host and Health Challenge spokesperson; and Carel Ricard, 2012 Health Challenge participant.
Photo credit: ACTI-MENU

Montreal, January 23, 2013 – Registration for the 5/30 Health and Wellness Challenge—the largest health promotion campaign in Quebec featuring spokesperson Mélanie Maynard—opened today. The ninth annual Health Challenge will take place from March 1 to April 11. Registration is open until March 1 at HealthChallenge.ca.

“My family and I took part in last year’s Health Challenge so I know firsthand that it’s possible to change your habits in six weeks,” says Mélanie Maynard, TV host, actress, and our campaign spokesperson. “The Health Challenge gave us that push we needed to make healthy living part of our daily routine. The best part is that you don't have to be an athlete—anyone can join!”

What is the Health Challenge?

Every year Quebecers are invited to eat better, be more active, and take care of themselves—three winning lifestyle habits that promote better physical and mental health!

Participants aim at reaching 3 goals for 6 weeks:

• The 5 Goal: Eating at least 5 servings of fruit and vegetables a day
• The 30 Goal: Getting active at least 30 minutes a day
• The Wellness Goal: Thinking about one’s strengths for increased wellness in life

“The Health Challenge invites Quebecers to be proactive and take concrete steps to improve their lifestyle,” says family physician and ACTI-MENU contributor Dr. Johanne Blais. “Studies show that an unhealthy diet and a sedentary lifestyle put you at serious risk for cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and obesity.”

Support

Regardless of whether they have registered on their own, as a family, or as a team, participants receive the following, on an exclusive basis (and at no cost!):

• The IGA Passport. Available at IGA, this handy tool is packed with tips, advice, bonus vouchers for discounts, and freebies—everything you need to reach the 5 Goal!
• Motivational e-mails sent once a week during the Health Challenge and once a month the rest of the year.
• New! Surprises from the Health Challenge team. They could be anything from memos to downloadable posters and will help families and teams stay motivated right to the end!

Participants also have unlimited access to a wealth of tools and information at HealthChallenge.ca and on our Facebook page (in French) (facebook.com/defisante). What’s more, participants are eligible to win one of the many prizes offered throughout the Health Challenge, including $5,000 worth of groceries, courtesy of IGA, and the Desjardins Family Prize of $5,000 in customized financial products.

For families

Because they are role models for their children—and because healthy habits start at home—parents are encouraged to register with their families. The Health Challenge checklist will be among the tools given to parents. It consists of 16 simple strategies that parents can use to help their children eat better and be more active. “Québec en Forme is proud to be working with ACTI-MENU and supporting the Health Challenge,” says Éric Myles, CEO of Québec en Forme, a Health Challenge partner since 2010. “We believe that programs like this help create environments that favour healthy eating and active living among young people and their families.”

The 5/30 Health and Wellness Challenge runs from March 1 to Aprill 11, 2013. To register, visit HealthChallenge.ca.

About the 5/30 Health and Wellness Challenge

Launched in 2005, the Health Challenge is a free annual campaign designed for Quebecers who want to improve their lifestyle habits. To date, there have been more than 850,000 participants. The Health Challenge is an ACTI‐MENU initiative made possible through the support of Québec en Forme, in partnership with the Quebec government, the Canadian Cancer Society, and the Prends soin de toi program. It is presented in collaboration with IGA, Desjardins, TELUS Health Solutions, AstraZeneca, Becel, Danone, Evian, Bon Matin, Exceldor, and Oasis.

Since 2011, the Municipalities and Families Together for Healthy Children component aims to encourage healthy lifestyle choices among children by engaging and supporting municipalities, local communities, and Quebec families. It is made possible through the support of our partners: Québec en forme, Quebec’s Directions de santé publique des agences de la santé et des services sociaux, the Quebec government (the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux; the Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport; and the Ministère des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l’Occupation du territoire), and in collaboration with the Fédération québécoise des municipalités, the Union of Quebec Municipalities, Kino‐Québec, and the Réseau québécois de Villes et Villages en santé. To learn more, visit HealthChallenge.ca.

About ACTI‐MENU

ACTI‐MENU is a social enterprise owned by foundations associated with the Montreal Heart Institute, the Centre ÉPIC, and the Hôpital Maisonneuve‐Rosemont. Its mission is to help individuals take an active role in their health. Founded in 1988, ACTI-MENU is dedicated exclusively to promoting health and healthy lifestyles, as well as the prevention and management of chronic illnesses.

ACTI-MENU is behind well-known campaigns such as the 5/30 Health and Wellness Challenge, the Quit to Win! Challenge, and Smoke‐Free Family that are geared toward the general public, municipalities, and families. ACTI-MENU also implements health-promotion programs in the workplace and produces publications and other patient information tools for the clinical setting. For more information, visit actimenu.ca.