Let's Move McAllen!

GOAL I

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GOAL II

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GOAL III

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GOAL IV

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GOAL V

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The National League of Cities (NLC) has recognized Mayor Jim Darling for recent completion of key health and wellness goals for Let's Move! Cities, Towns and Countries (LMCTC).  LMCTC is a major component of First Lady Michelle Obama's comprehensive Let's Move! initiative, which is dedicated to solving the childhood obesity epidemic within a generation.  LMCTC calls upon local elected officials to adopt sustainable and holistic policies that improve communities' access to healthy affordable food and opportunities for physical activity through five goal areas.

All LMCTC sites have the opportunity to earn up to five gold medals, one for each actionable goal to which they commit to as part of the initiative.  Medals are awarded to local elected officials based on achievements in each of the following five goal areas:

  • Goal I: Start Early, Start Smart:  Promoting best practices for nutrition, physical activity, and screen time in early care and education settings.
  • Goal II: My Plate, Your Place: Prominently displaying MyPlate in all municipal or county venues where food is served.
  • Goal III: Smart Servings for Students: Expanding access to meal programs before, during and after the school day, and/or over summer months.
  • Goal IV: Model Food Service: Implementing healthy and sustainable food service guidelines that are aligned with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
  • Goal V: Active Kids at Play: Increasing opportunities for physical activity.



Let’s Move! Cities, Towns and Counties (LMCTC) is part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s comprehensive Let’s Move! initiative, which is dedicated to reversing the childhood obesity epidemic within a generation. The City of McAllen with help of the National League of Cities and our Community Partners, is striving to build a healthy community for all of our citizens.

Lets Move McAllenHOW DOES IT WORK?

LMCTC helps local elected officials develop long-term, sustainable, and holistic strategies that promote improved nutrition and increased physical activity in their communities.

LMCTC unifies the efforts of cities, towns and counties across the country in pursuing five measurable and achievable goals, which were developed with input from local elected officials:

  1. Start Early, Start Smart:
    Provide children in early care and education settings with a healthy start.

  2. MyPlate, Your Place:
    Display MyPlate in city- and county-owned venues that serve food.

  3. Smart Servings for Students:
    Increase participation in school breakfast and lunch programs.

  4. Model Food Service:
    Adopt healthy food service guidelines at city- and county-owned venues that serve food.

  5. Active Kids at Play:
    Take steps to promote physical activity.

MyPlate - BlueThe City of McAllen has joined the USDA in partnership for the MyPlate program with goals of promoting healthy dietary guidelines within our community.  You can learn more about the program by going to www.ChooseMyPlate.gov

10 Tips for a Great Plate

Healthy Eating for Preschoolers

Fruits & Vegetables


Community Partners of the City's Let's Move! initiative include McAllen Independent School District and The Monitor.  If you are interested in being a partner, please contact Jolee Perez at jrperez@mcallen.net or (956) 681-1400.


Let's Move! Steering Committee
Organization Member
City of McAllen Veronica Vela Whitacre
City of McAllen Jolee Perez
City of McAllen Dawn Rapoza
McAllen ISD Mario Reyna
McAllen ISD Adalia Del Bosque
McAllen ISD Alex Molina
McAllen ISD Debbie Crane Aliseda
Head Start Lupita Valdez
Region One Francis Guzman
The Monitor Sandra Sanchez
McAllen Farmers Market Rocio Hernandez
Rio Grande Regional Hospital Cristina Rivera
Uptown Family Dentistry Aleda Reyes

Le'ts Move McAllen Pep-Rally Picture 7 Le'ts Move McAllen Pep-Rally Picture 6 Le'ts Move McAllen Pep-Rally Picture 5 Le'ts Move McAllen Pep-Rally Picture 4 Le'ts Move McAllen Pep-Rally Picture 3 Le'ts Move McAllen Pep-Rally Picture 2 Le'ts Move McAllen Pep-Rally Picture 1 Bike Race Family walking in the park McPumkin 7.5K Run McAllen Running Trails Let’s Move! City Proclamation June 23, 2014 Kid’s Run for Success 5K Farmers Market held weekly at the City Library Mayor Darling rides in for his State of the City address to the community Parade Walkers promoting McAllen Marathon 2014