The Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival Presented by Food & Wine and Travel+Leisure Magazines is Pleased to Announce the Return of Fun and Fit in the City presented by Target® on Saturday, October 9, 2010

Featuring a star-studded panel discussion led by Dr. Mehmet Oz

NEW YORK, Oct. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival founder and director, Lee Brian Schrager, is pleased to announce the return of Fun and Fit in the City presented by Target®.  Taking place on Saturday, October 9 at the Harlem Children's Zone, this interactive health expo is designed to address the epidemic of childhood obesity and the economic and social challenges of raising a healthy eater in an urban setting.  

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Fun and Fit in the City presented by Target is a unique program produced by the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival.  Invited families of the Harlem Children's Zone are encouraged to take part in a day complete with culinary demonstrations, healthy food samplings, giveaways, and a special panel discussion.  Local companies, along with Target, Share Our Strength®, the Food Bank for New York City, and HealthCorps® will come together to create a Healthy Harlem Diner experience, and provide helpful hints to guide parents through a variety of healthy lifestyle options.  Dr. Oz's non-profit organization HealthCorps' core mission is to empower teens and communities to become health agents of change and help the country reach the tipping point towards wellness.  At Fun and Fit in the City, HealthCorps® will showcase its students' cooking skills and upbeat health lessons.

The overarching message of the event will be addressed in a panel discussion, "Does an Apple a Day Really Work Anymore – How Can We Raise Healthier Kids?", moderated by Dr. Mehmet Oz, Founder and Chairman of HealthCorps®, heart surgeon, nationally syndicated talk show host and best-selling author.  Panelists Rachael Ray, Founder of The Yum-o! Organization, former NBA All-Star and current Miami Heat executive Alonzo Mourning, actor Mekhi Phifer, and David Zinczenko, editor-in-chief of Men's Health and editorial director of Women's Health and creator of the bestselling book series Eat This, Not That!, will offer guidance that focuses on a variety of practical, fun solutions that families can do to improve a child's eating habits.

Celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson, who will soon open the Red Rooster restaurant in the heart of Harlem, will demonstrate some of his favorite healthy dishes immediately following the panel discussion. In conjunction with Target—which continues to bring its fresh food layout to Target stores nationwide, including the new Harlem location—and AOL's Kitchen Daily, Samuelsson will show children and their parents quick and easy ways to implement healthier lifestyle options together at home.

The interactive and educational opportunities provided by Fun and Fit in the City presented by Target® are provided free to invited guests of the Harlem Children's Zone.  Harlem Children's Zone, Inc. is an internationally renowned nonprofit, offering education, social-service and community-building services to over 17,000 children and adults. The Harlem Children's Zone Project creates a comprehensive network of support programs for children from birth through college and also works to strengthen the families and community around those children.

About the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival

The 2010 Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival is produced by Karlitz & Company and Southern Wine & Spirits of New York.  Southern Wine & Spirits of New York is also the exclusive provider of wine and spirits at the Festival.  Hosted by and benefiting the Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength®, 100% of the Festival's net proceeds go toward helping these community based organizations fight hunger.  

About the Food Bank for New York City

Food Bank For New York City recognizes 27 years as the city's major hunger-relief organization working to end food poverty throughout the five boroughs.  As the city's hub for integrated food poverty assistance, the Food Bank tackles the hunger issue on three fronts — emergency food distribution, income support and nutrition education — all strategically guided by its research. Through its network of approximately 1,000 food assistance programs citywide, the Food Bank helps provide 400,000 free meals a day for New Yorkers in need. The Food Bank's hands-on nutrition education program in the public schools reaches thousands of children, teens and adults. Income support services including food stamps, free tax assistance for the working poor and the Earned Income Tax Credit put millions of dollars back in the pockets of low-income New Yorkers, helping them to achieve greater dignity and independence. Every dollar donated to the Food Bank helps provide five meals to New Yorkers in need. Learn how you can help at foodbanknyc.org.

About Share Our Strength

Share Our Strength^®, a national nonprofit, is ending childhood hunger in America by connecting children with the nutritious food they need to lead healthy, active lives.  Through its No Kid Hungry™ campaign – a national effort to end childhood hunger in America by 2015 – Share our Strength ensures children in need are enrolled in effective federal nutrition programs, invests in community organizations fighting hunger, teaches families how to cook healthy meals on a budget and builds public-private partnerships to end hunger, both nationally and at the state level.  Working closely with the culinary industry and relying on the strength of its volunteers, Share Our Strength hosts innovative culinary fundraising events and develops pioneering cause marketing campaigns that support No Kid Hungry.  Visit Strength.org to get involved in the No Kid Hungry campaign.

SOURCE 2010 Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival