The Tafts run around Washington

Ohio Gov. Bob Taft and first lady Hope Taft have been busy in Washington over the weekend, promoting a “Healthy Ohio” initiative by taking part in a 5K run/walk on Saturday and hitting a party at the White House on Sunday.

It’s all part of the National Governors Association’s winter meeting, scheduled to run from last Saturday until tomorrow.

According to the Ohio Department of Health, nearly 25 percent of Ohio adults don’t participate in regular physical activity, nearly 80 percent don’t consume the recommended five daily servings of fruits and veggies, and 26 percent smoke.

Taft’s statewide effort on health features a Web site that can give Ohioans tips on weight management, physical activity, nutrition and tobacco-use prevention or cessation.

“I encourage all Ohioans to take small steps to make lifestyle changes to improve their health,” he said. “Ohio is taking the initiative to help improve the quality of life for all Ohioans by encouraging them to change unhealthy lifestyles so that they can enjoy long, active lives.”

The Tafts joined President Bush most other governors at a White House dinner honoring states and territories that featured music from Grammy award winner Aaron Neville of the Neville Brothers.

The dinner’s menu included a side of Ohio field lettuces with citrus avocado dressing, Mary blue crab soup, Alaska honey-glazed venison, Hawaiian Kona coffee, and wine from California, Texas and New York.

Labor Secretary Elaine Chao and her husband, Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., also were in attendance.

(Photo courtesy of the National Governor's Association. Gov. Taft is on the right, back row. Hope Taft is in the middle, back row.)