CONCOURSE — Former Giant Chris Canty returned to his native borough on Monday to help kids learn about healthy eating.
The Baltimore Ravens defensive end was in Mullaly Park with the Food Bank For New York City's Change One Thing truck, a vehicle that is traveling throughout the city this summer to bring neighborhoods healthy snacks and advice for leading a healthier lifestyle.
Canty made popcorn trail mix with cinnamon, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, unsalted almonds, dried cranberries and dried apricots.
"We really want to change the culture surrounding the eating habits for our young people," he said.
The Food Bank's Change One Thing truck is meant to encourage teenagers to make smarter choices about their eating habits, such as drinking water instead of soda.
Small adjustments like this can have a big impact on wellness, according to the Food Bank's Chief Programs Officer Dominique Jones.
"You can change one thing, and it will change the trajectory of your health," she said.
Jones was pleased with the impact of the truck so far, saying teenagers were much more likely to pay attention to each other than to her.
"Young people listen to young people," she said.
The truck's mobility also makes it a good way to reach teenagers, who help staff the truck, during the summer, when they are not all in the same school buildings, according to Jones.
Fatumata Tunkara, 17, a teen ambassador with the Food Bank this summer, said she has enjoyed traveling to parts of the city she has not been to before, such as Flushing.
She has started drinking water instead of juice this summer.
"The fun thing about it is we're educating teens just like us on how to build a better lifestyle," she said.