New Orleans fullback to host six in “Food, Friends and #44” contest
To spotlight participating restaurants and motivate members, the Louisiana 2 Step is giving away lunch with football player Mike Karney.
Karney, the New Orleans fullback who helps the Louisiana 2 Step spread its message of eating right and moving more, will host one lucky football fan and up to five of his or her guests Dec. 18 at a New Orleans area 2 Step participating restaurant. The winner of the “Food, Friends and #44” contest will be chosen from among registered members of the Louisiana 2 Step, the innovative healthy eating and exercise program presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana and the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.
Becoming a 2 Step member is free, and it takes only a few seconds to click “Join Now” and sign up at www.Louisiana2Step.com. In addition to the “Food, Friends and #44” contest, the site offers other great ways for its members to stay motivated, including activity and food logs, a weight tracker and even personal virtual coaches. The site also features a complete listing of all the participating restaurants in the state.
Each 2 Step member can register daily for a chance to win the lunch. All registered Louisiana 2 Step members can enter the contest, although Blue Cross board members and employees are ineligible to win. Members can submit one entry each day from now until 11:59 p.m. CST, Dec. 9, 2007. The exact time and location of the lunch will be coordinated and confirmed with the winner by Blue Cross at least 24 hours prior to the event. For complete rules, visit www.Louisiana2Step.com.
The website has received more than 63,000 visits and 6,500 Louisianians have learned to eat right and move more by signing up as members of the Louisiana 2 Step since the program’s launch in January 2007. Karney has teamed up with the program to share the workout and nutrition tips that keep him fit for football. In the “Mike’s Turf” section of the 2 Step website, members can read Karney’s blog, check out his favorite recipes, ask him questions and even choose a virtual version of Karney as their personal health coach.
About Blue Cross
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is Louisiana-owned and -operated. Marking its 73rd anniversary this year, the company is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. It is a tax-paying mutual company, owned by its policyholders. Headquartered in Baton Rouge, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana also has district offices in Alexandria, Houma, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe, New Orleans and Shreveport. The company’s subsidiaries include HMO Louisiana, Inc. and Southern National Life Insurance Company, Inc.
About the Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Opened in 1988, the Pennington Biomedical Research Center now houses 14 research laboratories, 17 core service laboratories, inpatient and outpatient clinics, a research kitchen, an administrative area and more than $20 million in technologically advanced equipment. Located in Baton Rouge, the Center was expanded in 1993 to include the C.B. Pennington Jr. Conference Center, residence apartments, and an exercise and fitness facility. More than 70 faculty members and over 600 physicians, scientists and support personnel focus their research efforts on six key areas: Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome, Experimental Obesity, Functional Foods, Nutrition and Chronic Diseases, Health and Performance Enhancement, and Nutrition and the Brain. For more information, visit www.pbrc.edu.
