Mercy Heart Mini-Marathon & Start! Heart Walk - Cincinnati Event

There are some exciting opportunities coming up on Sunday, March 25 during the American Heart Association's Mercy Heart Mini-Marathon. Healthy Choice has teamed up with the AHA to get Cincinnati residents walking and on the road to living healthier lifestyles. In 2003, more than 30,000 Ohioans died from heat disease, which accounts for 28 percent of all deaths - giving Ohio the 14th highest mortality rate in the nation. But a commitment to healthy eating habits and regular physical activity can help reverse the trend. The Mercy Heart Mini-Marathon and Start! Heart Walk promotes physical activity and heart-healthy living in a fun, family environment. This year over a million walkers will participate in more than 600 events across the country, raising funds to save lives from this country's No. 1 and No. 3 killers, heart disease and stroke. We've got a lot of exciting activities planned: - Celebrity Chef Juan Carlos Cruz, host of "Calorie Commando" and "Weighing In," will be doing cooking demonstrations using Healthy Choice's standards of flavor and convenience to create dishes. He'll also about to release a new book, "Calorie Countdown," which includes 150 recipes, a six-week menu plan complete with snacks and restaurant meals and exercise tips. - Healthy Choice will also offer samples and info to consumers about its Start Making Choices program, which is a free, online health and wellness effort that can help consumers enjoy healthier lifestyles.