The Latino Nutrition Coalition on Tuesday launched a campaign to encourage Hispanics to eat healthier food, the AP/Indianapolis Star reports. The obesity rate for U.S. Hispanics increased from 11.6% in 1991 to 23.7% in 2001, the AP/Star reports. Hispanics residents are more likely to be obese and two times more likely to have diabetes than those who are not Hispanic, the AP/Star reports.

LNC's campaign features a "Latin American Diet Pyramid" that encourages Hispanics to eat traditional Latin-American foods, such as maize, quinoa, plantains and tropical fruits. A 16-page pamphlet teaching Hispanics about the benefits of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains now is available in some stores and churches in Dallas and Houston, and eventually will be distributed in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and New York. The guide also includes recipes for healthier versions of some traditional Latin-American dishes.

LNC manager Liz Mintz said, "We're trying to get people talking about what we should be eating and to focus on more traditional and healthier foods, rather than big quantities of cheap food" (Rhor, AP/Indianapolis Star, 5/1).