Healthy Kids Challenge Blog

MyPlate Teaching Resources for Healthy Holiday Fun

2011-12-15T11:43:00.000-06:00

To read this blog click here: http://http://wp.me/pyoBk-l3

Ho Ho Ho...for Healthier Holiday Gatherings

2011-12-08T09:55:00.001-06:00

If I had to choose my favorite Healthy Kids Challenge message regarding healthier holiday eating, it would be Smart Servings. Smart Servings allows you and your family to enjoy those special holiday foods and teaches “moderate eating” that goes beyond just the holidays. Try these ideas:

Visualize Your Plate – Think ahead about what a healthy meal plate looks like. Use the MyPlate icon and food groups to guide your choices.
Scan and Plan – Scan the food options and make a plan to include your favorites while keeping health in mind, such as fruits and veggies. You don’t have to try every food served!
Choose Less Fat and Sugar – As you scan and plan food choices, consider the fat and sugar content. Limit those foods.
Hunger Cues - Holiday meals usually provide more food choices than our usual meals. We tend to heap our plates full! Start out with small or “moderate” portions and listen to your “feelings of fullness”. Stop eating when you’ve had enough and enjoy the company around you! You'll be on your way to a healthy holiday season.

What tips help you and your family enjoy holiday eating without the guilt of overindulging? Share your ideas!

For more helpful Healthy6 Messages, visit the top left corner of our home page.

Note: Starting January 2012 we will be moving our blog to Wordpress, so please follow us there!

Pizza, Vegetables, and a Side of Healthy Balance

2011-11-30T13:02:00.001-06:00

Despite what the media headlines may lead you to believe, Congress has not declared pizza a vegetable. The bottom line is the tomato paste on the pizza still counts as a vegetable serving according to federal regulations for school lunch programs. (If you want more explanation than that, read this article from the LA Times: ‘Pizza vegetable’ controversy is hot potato.)

Healthy Balance

But, honestly, the real bottom line? We all need to find some healthy balance when it comes to nutrition for kids. Childhood obesity did not start overnight, and it won’t get fixed overnight either. Don’t get caught up in the blame game. The true solution to this epidemic is that many solutions are needed, which must mesh into a new culture of health for all of us. While Congress may not have approved the changes many thought would be approved, it’s up to the all of us to do the best we can, with what we have, where we are. Many schools are already making strides in offering appealing and tasty meals (see http://www.traytalk.org/), without additional reimbursement, and we can learn from them.

Many individuals are taking action themselves to help their schools offer healthier foods and more active play, without pay or recognition, because they know it’s the right thing to do. The people who make these changes will often tell you the closer you get to healthy balance, the reward is in the health itself. In a culture of health, kids will be eating better, moving more, and enjoying a healthy balance - what can you do to help reach that goal where you are?

Congrats to My Healthy Challenge Winners!

2011-11-17T13:31:00.001-06:00

Thanks and congrats to these 3 Healthy Kids Challenge fans who make healthy living a habit! They not only take personal wellness seriously, they also help kids learn to make healthy choices every day. Check out their stories, and consider sending us yours!

Emily Encourages Eating Fruits & Veggies the FUN Way

"We incorporate a lot of fruits and vegetables into smoothies. My kids eat one every day that usually has 3-5 different fruits and veggies. We also like to do stir-fry or roasted veggies with 3-5 different veggies mixed in so there is something each child likes, plus something new to try. We also love to add fruits and vegetables to ice pops! One of our favorite recipes includes a peeled zucchini, a peeled cucumber, cut up pineapple and fresh lemon juice. You don't even taste the veggies and they are super refreshing on a hot day!" - Emily Barker, Idaho

Lisa's Library Activities Include Health

"For the first three story times during June, we served cookies and juice. For the last one, we offered oranges and Sun Chips and they were very popular! One mother specifically thanked us for having healthy snacks. She said her kids don't like sweets. As part of story times, we used plastic fruit and vegetables for a word game with the puppet play "I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly." Children were asked to pick a fruit or vegetable and then come up with another word that started with the same letter. They could then put the fruit/vegetable "into" the old lady's stomach. They loved it!" - Lisa Moreland, Kansas

Lori Starts the School Day with Activity for Everyone!
We started a month long exercise program to start our morning at school. Once a week, the whole school participates in the "Chicken Fat" exercise CD. At first, I think the kids thought this was a lame idea. Now they look forward to this activity. Some of the teachers commented that they would like to have this activity every day. The PTSO bought two Big Bird costumes for the staff and principal to wear and surprise the students when they are exercising. - Lori McNutt, Michigan

Find More Successes and Share Your Story!

New Kids' Contests for Making Half Your Plate Fruits and Vegetables (healthykidschallenge.wordpress.com)
5 Kids Activities for Fruits & Veggies-More Matters Month (healthykidschallenge.wordpress.com)
Fruits & Vegetables: Part 2 of the Healthy Kids Challenge Way to Teach MyPlate to Kids (healthykidschallenge.wordpress.com)

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Preschool Activity Ideas

2011-11-10T15:13:00.001-06:00

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Image via Wikipedia

In honor of the 2011 Kansas Reads to Preschoolers Week, we want to share some ideas for the book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. At Healthy Kids Challenge we have a special connection to librarians through a generous grant project titled, “Reading-Smart Eating-Moving...Balance My Day”. It helped us reach Kansas kids with healthy messages, through their very enthusiastic, creative librarians. Now we have these ideas to share with you!

1. Coconut Bowl Activity Idea

Items Needed: fake plastic coconuts, toy bowling pins or empty plastic bottles, cut out letters, masking tape

Children can go bowling in your room! Tape random letters to the pins/bottles and set them up like a bowling alley in a room with a hard floor. Tape a line a few feet from the pins for children to stand behind. Let them roll the coconuts toward the pins to see how many they can knock over. Let them name the letters that they knocked down.

by Anne Harris, Outreach Librarian, Wichita Public Library. As a member of the Kansas Center for the Book’s Kansas Reads to Preschoolers state committee, Anne's been very busy helping to develop activity plans and promotional materials for Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. Access other great activity ideas at www.kcfb.info/chicka

2. Coconut Bowl- Variation #2

We will be using toilet paper rolls spray painted white, colorful duct tape for the lanes… and real coconuts for bowling balls!

Optional: Crack open a coconut to scoop out the insides and give everyone a taste!

by Danielle Dougherty, Youth Services Coordinator, Dodge City Public Library, Dodge City, KS.

3. Coconut Learning Lesson and Singing Fun

For preschoolers, start out your story time with information about coconuts. Bring an actual coconut to let them see and feel. Have one cracked open to see the inside. Show them what shredded coconut for baking looks like. Then read the story. After the story, pass out shakers to each child and have them stand up. Sing the following song and have kids follow the words:

Chicka, Chicka Dance (using shakers) 
Chicka, chicka, ABC. Do the chicka, chicka dance with me. 
Shake it to the left, now shake it to the right. 
Touch the floor, reach to the sky. 
Now, shake it to the left, shake it to the right. 
Turn around and clap 5 times!

Optional: Use other rhyming, active songs with the alphabet. Offer no added sugar apple juice and alphabet cereal (if you can find it) for a snack. Decorate the story time room with alphabet letters. I also made a Chicka, Chicka, Boom, Boom transfer for a T-shirt that I wore for the group.

by Madella Williams, Library Specialist, Finney County Public Library, Garden City, KS.

Each year, the Kansas Reads to Preschoolers initiative encourages reading to children at a young age. It also provides a wonderful opportunity to connect reading with healthy eating and physical activity messages. For more like this, see Reading-Smart Eating-Moving...Balance My Day.

Healthy Kids Challenge and zulily Discuss Healthy Eating Habits for Kids

2011-11-03T14:15:00.000-05:00

Healthy Kids Challenge (HKC) Hi Zulily members and friends! Thanks for joining us for this hour of Healthy Me! I’m eager to visit with you about your questions and concernes for kids eating and activity needs! Our mission is to help families and other adults who influence your kids to eat healthy and move more!

zulily Thanks, Vickie! We’re excited to hear about the creative work you’re doing at Healthy Kids Challenge!

Jennifer I’m a health educator, and healthy eating can be a tough sell to young students. How do you get your students excited about eating healthy? How do you make that fun for kids?

HKC GREAT questions! First snacks – Can’t go wrong with fruits and veggies! I suggest snack time should be about half way between meals so it doesn’t interfer with being hungry for the next meal. Snacks are important for younger kids to meet nutrient needs. Try lowfat yogurt mixed with canned or fresh chopped fruit, or lowfat cheese and crackers, bit size! Get the little ones involved, let them help with making the choices AND, sit down and enjoy the snack together!

HKC Now, Jennifer, on to your tough sell with nutrition for students! First of all, role modeling is key. From parents to teachers, principals to school nutrition services staff, each adult in the lives of kids makes a difference. Let them see us eat healthy and be active! Next, engage the kids, make it fun and exciting! What makes them tick? Things like tasting, science experiments, getting to work together in teams, getting up and moving. HKC offers free tips and monthly action ideas on our website, check them out!

Lindsay My almost 3 year old gets up ready to play and not eat breakfast, any suggestions? Also, any healthy but fun snack ideas for 3 year olds?

HKC Now, to answer that question about getting up wanting to play instead of eat. Dietitian Ellen Satter has a great division of responsibility for feeding kids – The parent is responsible for what, when, and where foods are served, and the child is responsible for how much is eaten or whether food is eaten. Be consistent with when breakfast is served, let your toddler help pour the milk and cereal, or wash the fruit, then sit back and enjoy together!

Angie We don’t have a lot of money and often have trouble being able to afford healthy foods. What are some good ideas to help get healthy food for kids in families on a tight budget?

HKC Angie, budgets are tight for so many families these days, I understand your concern and your want to feed your kids healthy too! Plan and plan somemore is key! Look for store specials, use coupons, consider store brands, keep staples on hand such as dry pasta and dried beans, frozen and canned fruits and veggies, and I love to cook once, eat twice. I often purchase meats on sale, cook up a pot of chili or make double batch of lasagne and freeze for another day. Keeping things like sugared drinks and high fat, high sugar snacks as occasional foods only will help the pocket book too.

Learning ZoneXpress @Lindsay – maybe there are some fun healthy finger foods that would let your 3 year old eat and play. Fruits can be fun for breakfast!

HKC Our friends at Learning ZoneXpress are right, Lindsay! Toothpicking cubes of cheese and fruit bites is so much fun. Try pretzel sticks instead of toothpicks! Or, paint faces on toast with yogurt, cut and munch!

zulily Vickie, what are some common myths and misconceptions you’ve come across about kids and healthy eating habits, if any?

HKC Oh Zulily, glad you ask, there are plenty. Many think kids don’t need snacks, that snacking is bad when the opposite is true, kids really do need that between meal nourishment. It’s not the snack that is “bad”, it’s often the food choice or the portion size! We call it Snack Attack, you be in charge of the food choices and make it a healthy snack, mom and child together! I’m thinking dried fruit in a yogurt cup sprinkled with granola sounds pretty tasty here in a bit myself! Another myth is that kids don’t need milk or dairy beyond age 2. Those bones and teeth certainly need calcium all throughout the growing years! Low fat milk and dairy foods are key to a child’s healthy growth!

Lindsay What are fun activities to do at home to get us all moving as a family instead of just sitting in front of the TV together?

HKC Your youngsters will LOVE this idea to get up and move! Write down some simple activites on note cards, use different color note cards. The activities can be from some of your child’s favorite books……..so, things like fly like a bird, sway like a bear, etc. When it’s commercial or INSTEAD of watching more tv, play with your child the get up and move game! Have him/her call out a color, turn over a card that color and together do the fun activity! Trust me, your child will want to do this over and over and over, and heh, might even forget about that next tv show!

zulily We noticed that the Healthy Kids Challenge newsletter features something called a Monthly Action Idea. Can you explain what this is and why adopting some of these ideas would be beneficial for families with youngsters?

HKC Parents and educators alike will enjoy our free e-newsletter and our monthly action idea. Healthy Kids Challenge is a team of registered dietitians and we all have backgrounds in child and school nutrition. We have developed many nutrition education tools and curriculum. To get families and schools started thinking nutrition education in the home and at school, we offer one of those ideas free each month, available by clicking on Monthly Action Idea from our homepage at www.healthykidschallenge.com It’s all about wrapping healthy eating conversation and action into daily living. If you’re in the car, why not talk about how to “eat your colors” with different fruits and veggies, then draw pix of those when you get home, make a list for the grocery store and let your child help prepare and serve the “colors” of fruits and veggies they selected. Same sort of education can happen in the classroom.

Lindsay Any ideas on how to get kids to try new foods?

HKC Patience and consistency. It may take up to 15-20 times with a new food for a little one’s palate to really decide if he or she likes that food so serving broccoli once and giving up won’t get it, try again. Remember, mom and dad decide what is served, child decides whether or not to eat, food should not be reward or punishment. Try new foods in different ways, such as that broccoli with a small amount of cheese sauce, or raw with low-fat veggie dip, or finely chopped in meatloaf or lasagne. Offer a new food along with other more familiar and favorite foods too so it’s not overwhelming to the child to come to the table and not feel comfortable with any item offered. Last thought, role model, what mom and dad say and try is very important.

zulily Vickie, we want to thank you for sharing such great information, tips, and tricks for encouraging lifelong healthy eating habits, shopping on a budget with nutrition in mind, and letting us know we can be OK with the occasional snack.

HKC Before our time is up, I just want to encourage all of you that food jags and ups and downs with feeding kids is normal. Offer a variety of healthy options and involve your kids, enjoy meals, snacks, menu planning and grocery shopping together as part of normal family routine. If you have school age kids, get involved with your school’s PTA/PTO or wellness council and keep keep coming back to HKC for help and support, like us on facebook, share in our Cause and sign up for your newsletter. We want to make a difference for kids with you!

zulily Before you go, can you share with us a little about which Healthy Kids Challenge campaign your most excited about and why?

HKC Our campaign we’re most excited about is for sure our Ten for Ten Cause, Zulily! School budgets are so tight, and yet nutrition education for kids is needed now more than ever. If every person each of us knew helped out in a small way, we could help truly a million kids have the knowledge and skills they need to make healthy choices and live an active, healthy lifestyle. Thanks for helping us make that happen, Zulily. http://www.causes.com/causes/582738-support-healthy-kids-challenge

zulily Thank you to our awesome followers for asking such great questions and a special thanks to Healthy Kids Challenge for such in depth and informative responses.

This is the transcript of the healthy eating Facebook chat with Healthy Kids Challenge and zulily from 11-2-11. You may also like to visit the zulily blog: http://blog.zulily.com/2011/11/02/healthy-kids-challenge-and-zulily-discuss-healthy-eating-habits-for-kids/.

Calling All Moms!

2011-10-28T10:01:00.002-05:00

Join us for “A Healthy Me” Facebook hour Weds., Nov. 2nd from 1:30-2:30 pm CST. The topic is healthy eating made simple for mom and fun for kids, by registered dietitian and director of Healthy Kids Challenge, Vickie L. James, RD, LD. Submit your questions on the Zulily Facebook page the day before or just join us on Weds!

Our friends at Zulily will be hosting the chat on their Facebook page - here’s the link: http://on.fb.me/tQxLxl And you can also become a Zulily member for FREE and receive some pretty amazing benefits!

Stay connected for more opportunities with Vickie on our Healthy Kids Challenge Facebook page and our new Cause project Ten for Ten, a program to raise funds to provide FREE nutrition education materials to schools across America! Every $10 will help us reach another 10 kids this school year. Our goal? 1 million dollars and 1 million kids!

Take The Healthy Kids Challenge As You Head Back to School (healthykidschallenge.wordpress.com)

Pumpkin Power for Kids

2011-10-20T13:12:00.000-05:00


Image via Wikipedia

We are in the full-swing of fall and pumpkins are everywhere! They are a healthy addition to many recipes, as well as a fun project medium for kids. While having fun and enjoying a tasty treat, your kids would never guess they are helping to meet their daily goal of fruits and veggies.

Pumpkin benefits:

Great source of vitamin A (plays an important role in vision and skin health)
Rich in antioxidants (help give your body a strong defense against disease)
Fat free and cholesterol free (heart healthy)
Good source of vitamin C (aids in healthy immune system)
Fiber (heart healthy and intestinal benefits)

Pumpkin puree.To make your own pumpkin puree, first choose a small, firm pumpkin for cooking which seems heavy for its size. Preheat oven to 325. Cut pumpkin in half, stem to base. Ask your kids to help ‘gut’ the pumpkin by removing all the seeds and pulp. Cover each half with foil and bake for 1 hr. Scrape meat from the halves and puree. Strain to remove stringy pieces.

Pumpkin breakfast muffins.Kids love to get in the kitchen, so let them help make pumpkin muffins for breakfast. Have them help you measure out the ingredients, or let them crack the eggs. They will truly enjoy eating something they helped create, AND it will get their day off to a healthy start!

Pumpkin seeds.Roast some pumpkin seeds for a snack. Kids can help by mixing the seeds and the seasonings together -salt, cinnamon, OR cayenne pepper are just some ideas. Explore your spice rack together and talk about different flavors. Do they like the salty or the sweet the best? What about spicy?

Pumpkin FUN.Help kids use cookie cutters to cut out shapes from the sides of the pumpkin. You can take it one step further with paint, and use the cut-out shapes as stamps. Decorate fun Halloween cards or plain white t-shirts with them!

Whichever way you choose, pumpkin can be a tasty and healthy treat, as well as a fun activity with your kids. Add some Pumpkin Power to your day!

3 Tips for Healthy Meals: School Breakfast

2011-10-18T10:50:00.000-05:00

Image via Wikipedia

Do your kids eat breakfast before school? Maybe sometimes they grab something on the way out the door. Or maybe they eat breakfast at school. With bus schedules and work commutes and everything in between, sometimes “healthy” gets overlooked and “convenient” wins the race. The fact is, kids’ brains and bodies need breakfast to “break” the overnight “fast.”Whether breakfast comes from home, or at school, kids need to be well-nourished so they can perform well everywhere they live, learn, and play. So here are 3 tips for healthy school-year breakfasts - at school and at home.

GO Power! Eating breakfast helps wake you up and gives energy to keep you going!

Drink a small glass of orange juice at home. Take along whole grain cereal squares in a baggie and a low fat yogurt container with a spoon to eat as you go.

BRAIN Power! Eating breakfast wakes up your brain to make school easier!

Try a whole grain bagel half spread with peanut butter and a banana.

HEALTH Power! Breakfast eaters have better intake of nutrients - to stay well and feel great!

Try low fat string cheese, whole grain crackers and an apple.

For more ideas like these, see Quick & Easy Breakfast Ideas

3 Tips for Healthy Meals: School Lunches (healthykidschallenge.wordpress.com)
Break the Code for Breakfast Power: A Sample School Nutrition Services Lesson (healthykidschallenge.wordpress.com)

What Caught My Eye This Week: School Lunch, MyPlate and More

2011-10-13T14:13:00.003-05:00

From time to time I like to share what’s caught my eye in the last week in the news and social media. Hope you find something to help you eat, move, and enjoy healthy balance here!

School Lunch -Making Progress on School Meals by Dr. Janey Thornton: http://thehill.com/opinion/op-ed/185525-making-progress-on-school-meals

MyPlate -Tear pads, stickers, and more from Learning ZoneXpress here: http://www.learningzonexpress.com/c-482-myplate.aspx

Family Meals -5 Easy Ways to Enjoy Mealtime Conversations on the Nutrition for the Future blog - http://eatwellatschool.blogspot.com/2011/10/five-easy-ways-to-enjoy-mealtime.html

Walking to School -Walking to school: Steps toward health in The Baltimore Sun: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bs-ed-walk-to-school-20111004,0,5342949.story

School Employee Wellness -Web site for “School Employee Wellness: A guide for Protecting the Assets of Our Nation’s Schools” - downloadable materials and awards programhttp://www.schoolempwell.org/?utm_source=MailingList&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Healthy+Kids+Challenge+WOWS+10-12-11

School Gardens -Youth Garden Grants Deadline: Nov. 28, 2011. Due to the generosity of The Home Depot Garden Club, 5 winners will receive gift cards valued at $1,000, and 95 winners will receive $500 gift cards, for gardening materials and supplies specific to their child-centered garden program from their local Home Depot store.

3 Tips for Healthy Meals: School Lunches (healthykidschallenge.wordpress.com)
USDA official brings good news to local schools (thegazette.com)
What to Do When There's Not Enough Time for School Lunch (healthykidschallenge.wordpress.com)

5 Tips for Active Play on a Rainy Day

2011-10-10T12:46:00.000-05:00

Active Play can be a part of every day…and it’s just that, play – something that is fun and enjoyable. Rainy days encourage me to be creative and think of ways to get moving while we are stuck inside. It certainly doesn’t take fancy equipment or a gym membership to be active. I thought about ordinary items around my house (and yours) that can get you jumping, running, and moving around! Here are 5 tips for active play on a rainy day:

Scarves – make a game out of tossing it up and trying to catch it. Try twirling around before catching it.

Balloons – blow them up and start batting them around. How high can you toss it? Can you toss it up, do a jumping jack and catch it before it hits the ground? Play a game of toss with a partner. Pretend each balloon is a tasty fruit or veggie in that color and name as you toss!

Paper Plates – use as a Frisbee or scatter a few on the ground and pretend to be a frog leaping from one to the other.

Paper – crunch up a piece of paper into a ball shape and practice shooting hoops into a small bucket or trash can.

Music -put some tunes on and join in with your kids! You will get to spend quality time and have fun with them (hopefully, it will burn their endless amount of energy) as well as get your heart pumping.

Here’s to Active Play every day - even rainy days - in October!

3 Tips for Healthy Meals: School Lunches

2011-10-06T11:03:00.001-05:00

Whether you send lunch from home or your kids eat school meals, you know how important it is that kids’ brains and bodies get healthy meals at school. In the morning rush, sometimes “healthy” gets overlooked when packing lunch at home, and “convenient” wins the race. Or you’re just plain out of ideas!

Consider this: with new healthy guidelines for school meals, and chef-inspired recipes being cooked up, now is the perfect time to have your kids check out the school meal program. Whether lunch comes from home, or at school, kids need to be well-nourished so they can perform well everywhere they live, learn, and play. So here are 3 tips for your kids to try from a school meal OR from home for lunch

1. Veggies - The Tasty Way. Most kids need to eat more veggies, so send low-fat ranch for dipping. Ask the school meal program director if they offer or will offer any kind of dip when they serve veggies.

2. Fantastic Fruits - Every day. Apples, bananas, and oranges are nature’s fast food! The school meal program always provides at least one serving of fruit so why not give it a try? When shopping buy fruit that is in season, and on sale, and include some peanut butter or yogurt for dipping.

3. Drink Think. Encourage kids to drink only water or milk every day at lunch. All schools now offer water in the cafeteria during lunch, as well as low-fat and fat free milk. If you send drinks from home, remember the best thirst quencher is water!

3 Best Activities for Healthy Kids During October

2011-10-03T13:39:00.002-05:00

It’s only the 3rd of October and it’s shaping up to be a very busy month! If you still need some last minute activities for healthy kids this month, we’ve got something here for you:

1. WALK to School. http://www.walktoschool.org/

Join kids and families around the globe to walk and bicycle to school in October! Remember that Wednesday, October 5, 2011 is Walk to School Day!

2. ENJOY Family Meals. http://nutrition.wsu.edu/ebet/brochures.html

Focus on family meals with the Eat Better, Eat Together promotion throughout this month. Washington State University Extension offers free brochures and a toolkit to get you started.

3. EAT Apples! http://www.usapple.org/PDF/NAM/NAM-TastingMenu_V3.pdf

This is meant to be a tasting menu for an “Apple Pairing Party” but don’t you think also work for kids’ snacks? Either way, celebrate Apple month by trying a new way to eat apples!

New Kids’ Contests for Making Half Your Plate Fruits and Vegetables

2011-09-29T11:30:00.000-05:00

I have some exciting new kids' contests to share with you as we come to the end of "Fruits & Veggies-More Matters” month!

The first one is the Stirring Up Health National Middle School Recipe Contest.
- The goal is to engage the kids you know to create or modify a recipe to make it healthier, using USDA MyPlate guidelines. Two of the categories are Fruits and Vegetables.
- The contest is open September 1, 2011 - March 2, 2012 to all kids currently enrolled in 7th or 8th grade. Prizes include: Chef for a Day for 5 National Winners: A J&W University chef will prepare YOUR recipe with you at a school or youth group event!
- Go to the Kids' Recipe Contest web page for entry rules, sample recipes, and past winners with the chefs who came to their schools!

The second one is the MyPlate Fruits & Veggies Video Challenge.
- Create short videos (approximately 30 seconds) showing how you’re adding fruits and vegetables to your diet without spending a lot of money.
- 3 categories:
  - Tips for kids
  - Tips when eating at home
  - Tips when eating away from home
- The goal of the challenge is to encourage healthy eating habits using MyPlate, which includes making half your plate fruits and vegetables.

The third one is, admittedly, not a contest but a pledge. We think it's so important that you personally take action that I want to challenge you to take this pledge today. It's to join America's More Matters Pledge for fruits and veggies. You could make this one into a contest by challenging kids to see which class or group can have the most taking the pledge!

It has been fun to share all these resources with you this month. Let me know if you want more along this line!

5 Kids Activities for Fruits & Veggies-More Matters Month (healthykidschallenge.wordpress.com)
Favorite Kids' Fruit and Vegetable Cooking Activities (healthykidschallenge.wordpress.com)
Continue the MyPlate series? Start a new one? (healthykidschallenge.wordpress.com)

Favorite Kids' Fruit and Vegetable Cooking Activities

2011-09-22T14:45:00.000-05:00

There’s a lot to be learned when you get kids cooking! In keeping with the theme of “Fruits & Veggies-More Matters” month, I want to share with you some of my favorite kids’ cooking activities using fruits and vegetables. Whether you teach in a classrooom, lead a group like Girl Scouts or 4-H cooking projects, or just want to show your own kids how fun cooking healthy food can be, here are some great online resources to refer to:

Healthy Cooking with Your Kids - Produce for Better Health Foundation: fruit and vegetable recipes, tips, and more
Chef Solus - Nourish Interactive: cooking game with lesson plan and more
Kids in the Kitchen - Junior League: recipes and video cooking demos of Fruity Kebabs, Trail Mix, and more
LANA Preschool Program - Learning ZoneXpress: tasting and cooking activities like Fruity Bugs and Veggie Bagel Face and more
The Thrill of Skill and other Educator Resources - Home Baking Association: cooking skills activities and checklists, recipes like Pumpkin Pancakes and Apple Dumplings, and more

5 Kids Activities for Fruits & Veggies-More Matters Month (healthykidschallenge.wordpress.com)
Best Blogs for Getting Kids to Eat More Fruits and Vegetables (healthykidschallenge.wordpress.com)
3 Kid-Friendly Fruit and Vegetable Recipes (healthykidschallenge.wordpress.com)

Best Blogs for Getting Kids to Eat More Fruits and Vegetables

2011-09-15T11:17:00.002-05:00

Welcome to week 3 of Fruits & Vegetables-More Matters Month! This week I'm highlighting some very useful food blogs. Get your kids eating more fruits and vegetables by using recipes, tips, and ideas from these blogs:

Super Healthy Kids - http://blog.superhealthykids.com/
Meal Makeover Moms Kitchen - http://mealmakeovermoms.com/kitchen/
The Truth on Health Blog - http://truthonhealth.org/blog/
Meals Matter - http://www.mealsmatter.org/blog/
Mom's Kitchen Handbook - http://www.momskitchenhandbook.com/
Mommy Dietitian - http://www.mommydietitian.com/
Raise Healthy Eaters - http://www.raisehealthyeaters.com/
Supermarket Savvy - http://www.supermarketsavvy.com/blog/

3 Kid-Friendly Fruit and Vegetable Recipes

2011-09-08T13:08:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the second week of Fruit and Vegetables-More Matters Month! This week I'm highlighting some of our favorite kid-friendly fruit and vegetable recipes. These top the list because they are healthy, they help kids make half their plate fruits and veggies, and they help teach kids cooking skills they’ll use for life. Wow!

Peanut Butter Banana Spirals

1/2 cup reduced-fat peanut butter
1/3 cup vanilla low-fat yogurt
1 tablespoon orange juice
2 ripe bananas, sliced
4 (8-inch) fat-free flour tortillas
2 tablespoons honey-crunch wheat germ
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Combine peanut butter and yogurt, stirring until smooth. Drizzle juice over bananas; toss gently to coat. Spread about 3 tablespoons peanut butter mixture over each tortilla, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Arrange about 1/3 cup banana slices in a single layer over peanut butter mixture. Combine wheat germ and cinnamon; sprinkle evenly over banana slices. Roll up. Slice each roll into 6 pieces.
Cooking Light SEPTEMBER 2003 Healthy Kids’ Recipes and Meals

Sometimes all you need is a blender and some fruit - it’s so simple! Try the C-splosion Smoothie, which is chock full of 3 types of berries and orange juice. Or try the Blackberry Smoothie starring almond milk. There’s also a yummy hummus recipe that kids love!

Speaking of love, I love this quote in the downloadable magazine! “Buy your kids a Happy Meal and they’ll eat for a day, but teach them how to cook and they’ll eat forever.” -Jill Melton

C-splosion

1 cup orange juice
1 cup raspberries
1/4 blueberries
1 cup strawberries
2 cups ice cubes

Combine all ingredients in blender. Whirl. Slurp. Serves 2.
Relish for Kids Relish for Kids Recipes

How about Apple Slice Pancakes? A clever way to add fruit to the meal; or Bean Dip - Kids love to dip chips and veggies; The recipes are fun to make and you can choose the skill level of your little cooks.

Bean Dip

1 16-oz. can refried beans
1 10-oz. can tomatoes and green chiles
Raw veggies and corn chips

In a mixing bowl, combine refried beans and tomato mixture. Serve with veggies or chips.
Kids a Cookin’ Kids a Cookin' Recipes

5 Kids Activities for Fruits & Veggies-More Matters Month

2011-09-01T12:43:00.000-05:00

September is Fruits and Veggies-More Matters Month! Find out how to help kids celebrate with these fun challenges and activities:

Take the Eat Your Colors Challenge -this is from a My Healthy Challenge monthly publication, which includes 5 challenges to eat your colors. Challenge yourself and challenge the kids. For more info, click here: http://www.healthykidschallenge.com/newsletter-signup
Join America’s More Matters Pledge to Fight Childhood Obesity - From the Produce for Better Health Foundation, pledge to improve your own fruit and veggie intake, your family’s, or your school’s. Got to http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/?page_id=12135
Take the MyPlate Makeover Challenge - Consumers can upload a snapshot of their meal plate, showing how they made half of it fruits & veggies, to the Fruits & Veggies-More Matters Facebook page. Receive a coupon and be entered in a drawing for a free weekly $100 grocery gift card!
Use the Eat a Tasty Rainbow activity pages - for kids 5 and under, and kids 6 and over. These are from the Colorful Plates section of the Healthy Balance Toolkit http://www.cigna.com/health_money/healthyKids/families.html
Try the CDC’s recommended “30 Ways in 30 Days to Stretch Your Fruit & Vegetable Budget”. Involve kids in trying all the ways they can eat healthier AND stay within a budget. http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/publications/index.html

Throughout September I’ll be posting anything and everything to do with kids and fruits & veggies - favorite online resources, blogs, recipes, and more. Send me your favorites and I'll include them too!

What to Do When There's Not Enough Time for School Lunch

2011-08-25T16:48:00.002-05:00

Many kids complain about not having enough time to eat school lunch. When our organization works tirelessly to help kids “Eat, Move and Enjoy Healthy Balance,” it's hard to read articles like the USA Today article, “Cutting short lunch time in school may lead to obesity.”

While the article brings attention to a very important issue, let's focus less on adding to the list of what “causes” obesity, and more on finding solutions.

I wish I had THE solution to not enough time for school lunch, but the fact is, there isn’t just one. It depends on the school, and just like people, there are many factors that determine how they allot their time. Some solution starters might look like this:

1. Find the win/win situation for the school and the students. Kids who are well-nourished can and do perform better academically. Share research (and there is plenty) showing the link between healthy eating and academics. You simply can’t eat healthily if you’re only given 5-10 minutes to eat lunch.

2. Focus on the small things that can be changed. To start, recognize that scheduling all grades eating in one cafeteria every day is not simple. What if you look at how many students are in the cafeteria is during each lunch period? is it full every time, or just some of the time and not at all at other times? Can certain grade levels be combined? How do other schools fit in 30 min. or more for lunch time?

3. Consider recess before lunch. What? Yes. Before lunch. It’s successful in many schools across the nation, and the benefits are beyond what you’d expect for less plate waste, smoother lunch periods and better focus in the afternoon.

What ideas can you share?

SNA’s State of School Nutrition Report 2011: http://www.schoolnutrition.org/Blog.aspx?id=15955&blogid=564

The Relationship Between the Length of the Lunch Period and Nutrient Consumption in the Elementary School Lunch Setting
http://docs.schoolnutrition.org/newsroom/jcnm/04fall/bergman/bergman2.asp

Break the Code for Breakfast Power: A Sample School Nutrition Services Lesson

2011-08-18T15:11:00.000-05:00

Throughout the 6-part series, The Healthy Kids Challenge Way to Teach MyPlate to Kids, I’ve noted the fact that we’re only providing parts of the comprehensive lessons. Here is a sample lesson for School Nutrition Services staff, which enhances the classroom MyPlate lessons.

Use this activity to build connections with kids to increase school meal participation and support classroom nutrition education!

Break the Code for Breakfast Power (p. 208, School Nutrition Services Section, Grades 3-5, Balance My DayTM)

Background:

In classroom Breakfast GO Power lessons, kids are learning that breakfast helps give them:
- GO Power to feel less tired
- HEALTH Power with more vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients
- BRAIN Power to make learning easier

Materials: Worksheet (p..218), Pencils

Activity

1. Collaborate with the teacher(s) to show kids the GO Power of school breakfast!

2. Show kids school breakfast menus and corresponding nutrient analysis. Point out all the different nutrients indicated by the analysis. If your school does not do an analysis, talk about the menu guidelines your are required to use to ensure nutrient needs are met. Bring several Child Nutrition labels to class to show kids how you ensure prepared foods meet guidelines.

3. Use the Break the Code for Breakfast Power Worksheet to reinforce the message.

School Nutrition Services is the ideal partner to enhance the lessons. In addition to reinforcing curriculum lessons, suggested activities create appeal for School Nutrition Services and healthy eating using:

Bulletin boards
Theme days and other meal participation marketing
Classroom connections (including worksheets)
Role-modeling
Family connections

Take The Healthy Kids Challenge As You Head Back to School

2011-08-11T12:11:00.000-05:00

Welcome back to school! We hope that your summer provided a renewed energy for a wonderful school year! Healthy Kids Challenge wants to serve as your partner in health this year to bring health and wellness ALIVE. Whether your needs are nutrition education curriculum, staff training, wellness council support or resources, look to HKC for solutions!

The new school year is a great time to gather an existing wellness team or build a new team! Team up for wellness with the following Healthy Kids Challenge tips.

Get people on board
1. Begin recruiting those who have expressed or demonstrated an interest in nutrition and physical activity. Start with whatever number of members you can.
2. Brainstorm potential recruits who represent different groups: administrators, classroom teachers, youth leaders, PE teachers, nurses, food service, community members and families .
Develop a team vision:
1. Brainstorm the team's wellness dream and then write a short memorable statement describing the dream.
2. Vision example: A school/youth program that provides a healthy environment with consistent messages that guide learning and opportunities for practicing healthy lifestyle choices; and connects with families and the community to expand the messages and healthy choices everywhere kids go. 
Share the team vision and develop awareness:
1. Identify ways to let others know of the vision through newsletters, Web site and word of mouth
2. Use "talking points" for nutrition and physical activity:
  1. the needs (childhood obesity, poor eating and physical activity habits of kids)
  2. the benefits (improved academic potential, better attendance)
  3. what you intend to accomplish (awareness and appeal for HKC’s Healthy6 messages, increased role-modeling)

You can receive email tips like this in the W.O.W.S. newsletter twice a month. Don’t miss the motivating message to start the year off right from our Healthy Kids Challenge Director, Vickie L. James, RD, LD, on Weds., August 17, 2011.

Continue the MyPlate series? Start a new one?

2011-08-04T12:05:00.000-05:00

Healthy6 messages = MyPlate messages

Let me hear from you...Feedback has been positive for the Healthy Kids Challenge Way to Teach MyPlate to Kids blog series. Now I want to know if you want more of the same. I’ll make it easy for you. Simply choose one of the options below and enter the letter A, B, or C as your comment.

A. Yes, these lessons and activities have been helpful and I want more like them.

B. No, these lessons and activities have not been helpful. I need something different.

C. My suggestion for a series is: ________________ (sorry but you’ll have to type more than the letter C for this one!)

Thanks for sending in your comments. Next week's blog will be on a different topic while I wait to see the results, and then the series will continue or change on August 18th.

If you want to easily find the specific topic you need in the current series, here is the list:

Smart Servings: Part 1 of the Healthy Kids Challenge Way to Teach MyPlate to Kids

Fruits and Veggies: Part 2 of the Healthy Kids Challenge Way to Teach MyPlate to Kids

Breakfast: Part 3 of the Healthy Kids Challenge Way to Teach MyPlate to Kids

Drink Think: Part 4 of the Healthy Kids Challenge Way to Teach MyPlate to Kids

Snack Attack: Part 5 of the Healthy Kids Challenge Way to Teach MyPlate to Kids

Active Play: Part 6 of the Healthy Kids Challenge Way to Teach MyPlate to Kids Series

Active Play: Part 6 of the Healthy Kids Challenge Way to Teach MyPlate to Kids

2011-07-28T10:27:00.000-05:00

Active Play Every Day is one of the HKC Healthy6 messages, and matches up with MyPlate key messages teaching kids to "Be Active Your Way". Teach Active Play to kids using this lesson titled Active Play in Every Day. Utilize MyPlate and activities kids enjoy to help kids hear, see, and practice the lesson.

Active Play in Every Day (Lesson 7: Grades 3-5, Balance My DayTM)

Outcomes: HECAT Standards 1.11, 1.15

Sample Discussion Point: For most kids, eating a healthy plate and less of high fat and added sugar foods, plus 60 minutes of Active Play every day gives healthy balance. If you eat too much fat and sugar, it is hard or impossible to get enough Active Play to balance the “energy in”.

Sample Discussion Question: If you have more “energy in” (food or drink), than the “energy out”, what can happen?

Activity

1. Divide kids into teams of 4. Explain that too much TV and screen time (like computers and video games) keep kids and adults from getting enough Active Play.

2. Ask teams to come up with 4 kinds of Active Play with these “rules”:

The activities are something everyone on the team likes. Finding things you like to do together is a way you and your friends can encourage each other to be active.
They are activities most people can do at any time and they do not cost or require traveling far to participate.

3. As a whole group, ask teams to share and discuss their activity ideas. If time allows, perform some of the Active Play ideas.

4. Distribute the Lesson 7 Worksheet. Guide kids to individually complete the worksheet.

Move and Learn

Perform “My Body” - An activity of song and motion!

1. Practice singing the following lyrics to the tune of My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean:

-My body lies over the sofa.
-My body watches too much TV.
-My body lies over the armchair, oh bring back my body to me.
-Bring back, bring back, oh bring back my body to me, to me.
-Bring back, bring back, oh bring back my body to me.

2. Once the class is familiar with the lyrics, explain they should sit or stand each time they sing a word beginning with “b”.

3. Start in a standing position. (At the end, everyone should be standing.)

4. Explain too much TV and screen time means less Active Play and less “energy in” balance.

5. Choose at least 60 minutes of Active Play every day.

Summary

Healthy weight happens when “energy in” (food and drinks) = “energy out” (Active Play”). Too much high fat and added sugar food can overload “energy in”, making it hard to get enough Active Play for good balance.

These are just sample parts of Lesson 7 - the sample lesson activity and the Move and Learn activity are from p. 111 in grades 3-5 Balance My Day Nutrition Education Curriculum. The worksheet, , discussion points and questions, and answer key are available for your review, along with school nutrition services and Taste and Learn activities supporting this lesson. Learn more on the Balance My Day Nutrition Education Curriculum page, or contact us with questions.

Snack Attack: Part 5 of the Healthy Kids Challenge Way to Teach MyPlate to Kids (healthykidschallenge.wordpress.com)
Fruits & Vegetables: Part 2 of the Healthy Kids Challenge Way to Teach MyPlate to Kids (healthykidschallenge.wordpress.com)
Nutrition Education That Works Everywhere Kids Live, Learn, and Play (healthykidschallenge.wordpress.com)

Snack Attack: Part 5 of the Healthy Kids Challenge Way to Teach MyPlate to Kids

2011-07-21T13:40:00.000-05:00

Snack Attack is one of the HKC Healthy6 messages, and matches up with MyPlate key messages teaching kids to compare sodium, sugar and fat in foods and choose foods with lower numbers. Teach Snack Attack to kids using this lesson titled A Balanced Day. Utilize MyPlate and trail mix to help kids hear, see, and practice the lesson.

A Balanced Day (Lesson 10: Grades 3-5, Balance My DayTM)

Outcomes: HECAT Standards 5.3, 6.1, 6.3, 7.12

Materials: Trail mix ingredients and supplies, 5 sets of juggling scarves in MyPlate food group colors or labeled paper plates

Activity

*You have the option of using trail mix ingredient packaging for label reading, with or without creating an actual trail mix for tasting. If tasting is incorporated, check for food allergies in advance.

For each ingredient, ask kids to guess the food group.
1. Ask which food groups are missing. (Unless pumpkin seeds or dried tomatoes are used, the answers will be Milk and Vegetable).
2. Ask them to identify which ingredient doesn’t belong in any food group and why. (M&M’s® have “energy in” and no healthy nutrients.)
3. Ask kids to guess the correct serving sizes for ingredients. Measure the correct serving and an incorrect serving for each of the foods below. Place each food in a clear plastic cup and label appropriately and ask participants to guess the correct serving. --OR-- Have the participant scoop out what theey think is the correct serving from a “bowl of food” and then use a measuring cup to see how close they really are.
Using Nutrition Facts labels from trail mix ingredients, ask kids to:
1. Rank order the foods from most to least amount of fat per serving, with the highest fat food on the far right.
2. Now rank order the foods from the most to the least amount of sugar per serving, with the food with the most sugar on the far right.
3. Repeat for the amounts of sodium from most to least.
4. Option: Use sugar cubes or teaspoons of fat (margarine pats) to demonstrate the actual amount of sugar or fat in each serving. 1 sugar cube = 4 grams sugar; 1 tsp. fat = 4 grams fat.
5. Ask kids, in building a trail mix with MyPlate portions, to identify which foods are in greatest amount, and those in the smallest amount. Have kids make a trail mix snack with the foods on the table, keeping balance according to MyPlate (proper portions).

Note: Remember handwashing and food safety.

Supplies for Snack Attack Trail Mix	For 25 servings	Scoop size
Cheerios® (9 cups per 9 oz.)	1 - 9 oz. box	1/4 cup
Wheat Chex® (6.75 cups per 14 oz.)	1 - 14 oz. box	1/4 cup
Pretzels, mini (10.5 cups per 15 oz.)	1 - 15 oz. box	1/4 cup
Craisins® or raisins (3.75 cups per 24 oz.)	1 - 12 oz. box	1 Tbsp.
Dry roasted peanuts or soy nuts (3 cups per 16 oz.)	1 - 16 oz. jar	1 Tbsp.
M&M’s® (approx. 21 servings per 12.6 oz.)	1 - 12 oz. bag	1 Tbsp.
Disposable cups or baggies to hold approx. 1 1/4 cup	25

Option: Add sundried tomato bits or pumpkin seeds to represent veggie food group (2 cups per 25 servings). Use a Tbsp. for a serving size

Note: Students with peanut allergies will not be able to have either peanuts or M&M’s® . Consider soy nuts and only approved candies.

Move and Learn

Group kids in 5 straight lines of equal numbers. Have each group form the spokes of a circle, at least 1 1/2 arm lengths apart.
To the first person in each line, give 5 scarves (or paper plates) of the same MyPlate color group. (There will be orange, green, red, blue, and purple lines.) Ask each team to identify one healthy snack food from their color group.
Ask the first student in line to begin passing the scarves, alternating turning from right to left, to the student behind them. The last student in line will collect all the scarves and begin the same activity, in reverse order, from back to front.
When all the scarves reach the front of the line, let kids know they will begin building their MyPlate. They are to pass one of their scarves to the first person in the line to their right. Now each group will have 1 scarf of another color.
Repeat the up and down the line activity described in #3.
As described in #4, when all the scarves reach the front of the line, pass one scarf from their original color group to the next line. After 5 times, all 5 groups will have a set of all 5 major MyPlate color groups.

Summary

For plenty of energy, a healthy heart and body, and to feel and look the best you can, make healthy eating choices and balance them with Active Play every day.

These are just sample parts of Lesson 10 - the sample lesson activity and the Move and Learn activity are from p. 173 in grades 3-5 Balance My Day Nutrition Education Curriculum. The worksheet, teacher resource, student assessment, discussion points and questions, and answer key are available for your review, along with school nutrition services and Taste and Learn activities supporting this lesson. Learn more on the Balance My Day Nutrition Education Curriculum page, or contact us with questions.

The Healthy Kids Challenge Healthy6 Ways to Teach MyPlate to Kids Series (healthykidschallenge.wordpress.com)
Drink Think: Part 4 of the Healthy Kids Challenge Way to Teach MyPlate to Kids (healthykidschallenge.wordpress.com)
Breakfast: Part 3 of the Healthy Kids Challenge Way to Teach MyPlate to Kids (healthykidschallenge.wordpress.com)

Drink Think: Part 4 of the Healthy Kids Challenge Way to Teach MyPlate to Kids

2011-07-14T13:22:00.000-05:00

Drink Think is one of the HKC Healthy6 messages, and matches up with MyPlate key messages teaching kids to drink milk and water instead of sugary drinks. Teach Drink Think to kids using this lesson titled Think Breakfast Drinks. Utilize MyPlate and a milk experiment to help kids hear, see, and practice the lesson.

Think Breakfast Drinks (Lesson 5: Grades 3-5, Balance My DayTM)

Outcomes: HECAT Standards 1.8, 1.11, 3.4, 7.5

Materials: Dairy group food cards, Milk, 3 shallow bowls, dish soap, food coloring, cotton swabs

Sample Discussion Point
MyPlate recommends kids ages 9-13 choose 3 cups of low fat or fat free milk (or calcium equivalents) each day.

Sample Discussion Question
Do the drinks you choose for breakfast have added sugar and are they high in fat?

Activity

1. Perform the Milk Fat Experiment. (Use Teacher’s Resource, p. 70 in Balance My Day. The source for this experiment is the American Chemical Society, Science for Kids, and can be downloaded at http://portal.acs.org/portal/fileFetch/C/WPCP_012696/pdf/WPCP_012696.pdf.

2. Talk about how food labels are a good source of nutrition information. Many popular drinks are high in fat and added sugar.

3. Using the Lesson 5 Worksheet-1, have kids
a. look at the milk Nutrition Facts labels and locate the fat content.
b. determine if the amount of fat listed confirms what they saw in the experiment.

4. Now look at the chocolate milk label and locate the fat. Point out some chocolate milk is low in fat, but this is not. Compare the amount of sugar in the chocolate milk with that in the whole milk. Compare the list of ingredients. (Sugar and corn syrup are added sugars.)

5. Look at the Nutrition Facts label serving sizes. How much milk does MyPlate recommend each day? How do these serving sizes compare?

Move and Learn

Explain to feel our best, it takes a partnership of healthy eating choices (energy in) and Active Play(energy out).

Partners for healthy balance: choosing less of foods and beverages high in fat and added sugar and Active Play.
Partners for strong bones: Calcium we get from milk (and other foods) and Active Play. When we include weight-bearing activities, there is better calcium absorption.
“Partner-up” 3 servings of milk and weight-bearing activities for stronger bones.
Practice these weight-bearing movements while discussing the partnerships:

* Walk in place
* Hop forward and then back
* Dance
* Play hopscotch
* Jump rope

Drink Think milk!

Summary

Drink Think at breakfast. Drinking three cups of milk a day is a healthy choice. Milk is rich in calcium and Vitamin D. For a healthy heart and healthy balance, choose foods low in fat and added sugar.

These are just sample parts of Lesson 5 - the sample lesson activity and the Move and Learn activity are from p. 47 in Grades 3-5 Balance My DayTM Nutrition Education Curriculum. The worksheet, student assessment, discussion points and questions, and answer key are available for your review, along with school nutrition services and Taste and Learn activities supporting this lesson. Learn more on the Balance My Day Nutrition Education Curriculum page, or contact us with questions.

Breakfast: Part 3 of the Healthy Kids Challenge Way to Teach MyPlate to Kids

2011-07-07T14:19:00.000-05:00

Breakfast GO Power is one of the HKC Healthy6 messages, and matches up with MyPlate key messages teaching kids to increase certain foods, such as whole grains and dairy. Teach Breakfast GO Power to kids using this lesson titled MyPlate, My Planning Tool. Utilize MyPlate and food pictures to help kids hear, see, and practice the lesson.

MyPlate, MyPlanning Tool (Lesson 3: Grades 3-5, Balance My Day)

Outcomes: This lesson meets HECAT standards: 1.1, 1.2, 3.1, 7.10

Materials: MyPlate poster, Balance My Day Food Cards or food pictures cut from magazines, paper and pencils

Sample Discussion Point
MyPlate is a reliable source for information and a tool for healthy eating choices and meal planning. There are 5 major MyPlate food groups. There isn’t any one group that gives us all the nutrients our body needs. It takes a variety of foods from each group for good health.

Sample Discussion Question
Look at the MyPlate symbol as you discuss the questions:
For breakfast meal planning, nutrition experts often recommmend choosing a complete breakfast from at least 3 of the 5 major MyPlate food groups. From which 3 food groups would you choose?

Activity:

Pre-Prep: Have Balance My Day food cards available and visible for kids to get menu ideas.

1. Divide students into 5 teams, and give each team a sheet of paper and pencil.

2. Ask each team to:
a. Create, with at least 3 foods from the 5 major MyPlate groups, 2 healthy breakfast menus. The breakfast menus should be something they would eat and they think their friends would like, too.
b. Use adjectives to describe and make their menu item sound good.

3. After creating the menus, have each team present the menus to the rest of the group.

Move and Learn

1. Divide students into 5 teams.

2. Explain teams will be running a relay. Each kid on a team will pick up a food card that represents one of the 5 major food groups. The goal is to use the cards to build a healthy plate.

3. Set the food cards in an easily accessible place, a distance away from the teams.

4. As they pick up their cards “relay style”, call out different movements (baby steps, giant steps, step like a duck). Kids waiting in line for their teammate can walk in place.

5. With 5 cards in hand, have teams build their plate on the floor in MyPlate food group order.

Summary

MyPlate is a reliable source of information and a tool for healthy eating choices and meal planning. There are 5 major MyPlate groups. There isn’t any one group that gives us all the nutrients our body needs. We need to choose a variety of foods from each group for good health.

These are just sample parts of Lesson 3 - the sample lesson activity and the Move and Learn activity are from p. 43 in grades 3-5 Balance My Day Nutrition Education Curriculum. The worksheet, student assessment, discussion points and questions, and answer key are available for your review, along with school nutrition services and Taste and Learn activities supporting this lesson. Learn more on the Balance My Day Nutrition Education Curriculum page, or contact us with questions.

Smart Servings: Part 1 of the Healthy Kids Challenge Way to Teach MyPlate to Kids (healthykidschallenge.wordpress.com)
Fruits & Vegetables: Part 2 of the Healthy Kids Challenge Way to Teach MyPlate to Kids (healthykidschallenge.wordpress.com)

Fruits & Vegetables: Part 2 of the Healthy Kids Challenge Way to Teach MyPlate to Kids

2011-07-01T14:18:00.000-05:00

Fruits & Veggies Every Day the Tasty Way is one of the HKC Healthy6 messages, and matches up with MyPlate key messages teaching kids to make 1/2 their plates fruits & veggies. Teach Fruits & Veggies Every Day the Tasty Way to kids using this lesson titled Fruits &Veggies, Crunch and Munch. Utilize MyPlate and colors of the fruit & veggie rainbow to help kids hear, see, and practice the lesson.

Fruits & Veggies, Crunch and Munch (Lesson 6: Grades 3-5, Balance My Day)

Outcomes: This lesson meets HECAT Standards 1.6, 6.1, 6.4, 7.4, 8.2, 8.3

Materials: Crayons, paper plates

Activity:

On a paper plate, have kids draw a rainbow with fruit and veggie color bands (purple/blue-green-white-red-yellow/orange). Make the color band wide enough to write in fruits and veggies. Label the colors of the bands.
In the appropriate color band, ask kids to write the fruits and veggies they ate yesterday and today. Determine the color by the edible portion. For example, bananas are white because the yellow peel is not edible. Refer to the Teacher Resource, Fruits and Veggies Color Category.
As a class, for each color group tally the number of fruits and veggies eaten and most/least colors consumed. Graph the results.
Identify textures. Ask kids to determine how the number of “crunchy” fruits and veggies compares to the number of “soft” fruits and veggies. Talk about how to add variety with different fruit and veggie colors and textures to the day.
Distribute Lesson 6 Fruit & Veggie Log.
1. Ask kids to keep a two-day log. At the end of two days, have them bring the log to class and underline each entry with the corresponding color.
2. Discuss the colors, textures, what was most/least reported, and how to add more color or variety.

Move and Learn:

Divide kids into groups of 4-5 and ask each group to form a circle.
Have each kid think of their favorite fruit or veggie (f/v) and a movement (hop, touch toes, etc).
Identify a start point on the circle. The first kid will announce their choice of f/v and movement. Everyone in the circle will repeat the f/v and perform the movement.
Move clockwise to the second kid and so on, repeating the activity.
Continue in this manner until the circle is complete.

Summary:

Choose plant foods like fruits, veggies, and whole grains for fiber. For the greatest amount of fiber, eat the skin of fruits and veggies and choose fruit instead of juice. Fiber makes us feel full, making overeating less likely. Fiber also helps lower cholesterol for a healthier heart and keeps food moving through our digestive system.

These are just 2 parts of Lesson 6- the sample lesson activity and the Move and Learn activity from p. 165 in grades 3-5 Balance My Day Nutrition Education Curriculum. The worksheet, teacher resource, fruit/veggie log, student assessment, discussion points and questions, and answer key are available for your review, along with school nutrition services and Taste and Learn activities supporting this lesson. Learn more on the Balance My Day Nutrition Education Curriculum page, or contact us with questions.

Smart Servings: Part 1 of the Healthy Kids Challenge Way to Teach MyPlate to Kids (healthykidschallenge.wordpress.com)

Nutrition Education That Works Everywhere Kids Live, Learn, and Play

2011-06-27T16:42:00.001-05:00

Our brand of nutrition education is unique because it doesn’t always begin in the classroom. Of course it can if you use the new Balance My Day nutrition education curriculum, but what I’m talking about takes that concept and spreads it everywhere kids live, learn and play.

Schools, businesses, communities, healthcare organizations, families, and kids can all support a culture of health. Nutrition education is just one of the ways each of us can help in the fight against childhood obesity. It’s becoming easier now than ever before with the national Let’s Move campaign. There’s something everyone can do.

See below for some of the highlights of what we're doing with our unique twist on nutrition education beyond classroom curriculum...from win-win partnerships to toolkits, from student chefs to a national recipe contest.

1. Top 5 Ways Healthy Kids Challenge Supports Let's Move

2. Chef Inspired, Kid Approved

3. Partner Spotlight: Orange County Public Schools OCPS

4. 3 Students Win "Chef for a Day" at School

5. MyPlate, Meet Colorful Plates...Helping Kids Be Healthy

6. Timely Trio: The PEP Grant, Healthy Kids Challenge and SPARK

7. Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids: 4 Actions Schools Can Take Now

Smart Servings: Part 1 of the Healthy Kids Challenge Way to Teach MyPlate to Kids

2011-06-23T15:31:00.000-05:00

Image by CaptQuirk via Flickr

Smart Servings is one of the HKC Healthy6 messages, and matches up with the MyPlate key messages teaching kids to balance their calories. Teach Smart Servings to kids using this Smart Servings Balancer Choices lesson. Utilize MyPlate and real paper plates to help kids hear, see, and practice the lesson.

Smart Servings Balancer Choices (Lesson 4: Grades 3-5, Balance My Day)

Outcomes: This lesson meets HECAT Standards 1.3, 1.5. 1.11, 7.6, 7.7

Materials: paper plates, 1 1/2 decks of cards, 5 tennis balls, food labels

Activity:

1. Point out that serving sizes are identified in both weight and volume measures.

2. Look at recommended MyPlate food group servings and distinguish weight and volume measures. As possible, use cup measures and a weight scale as visuals.

3. Use every day items to compare 5 ounces of Protein to 5 cups of Fruits and Vegetables. The numbers are the same, but 5 ounces of Protein is the same volume as about 1 1/2 decks of cards vs. 5 cups of Fruits and Vegetables, which is comparable in size to 5 tennis balls.

4. Look at miscellaneous food labels and determine if serving size is given as a weight or volume measure, or a “per each.”

Move and Learn:

Pre-prep: Count enough paper plates so there is 1 per student. Label the plates on one side with one of the 5 major MyPlate food groups and on the other side the average number of daily servings for a 9-13 y.o.: 6 Grains, 2 1/2 cups Vegetables, 1 1/2 cups Fruits, 3 Dairy, 5 ounces Protein.

Pass out paper plates, 1 per student.
Have kids take a plate, toss it “Frisbee-style”; then randomly pick up another plate and toss. Continue until asked to stop.
Upon stopping, ask kids to pick up any plate, and pair off with another student.
Have each student look at the food group side of their plate and quiz the other person for the number of daily servings in that group.
Repeat the tossing activity.
To conclude, ask kids to place their plates, according to major food groups, in an imaginary MyPlate shape. With the food group sides up, ask kids if they can recall the number of recommended servings.

Summary:
Eat in moderation by choosing Smart Servings for a healthy plate (all 5 major MyPlate groups) and less of foods high in fat and added sugar. Choosing foods with plenty of fiber, like fruits and veggies can help us keep from overeating.

These are just 2 parts of Lesson 4 - the lesson activity and the Move and Learn activity from p. 105 in grades 3-5 Balance My Day Nutrition Education Curriculum. The worksheet, teacher resource, student assessment, discussion points and questions, and answer key are available for your review, along with school nutrition services and Taste and Learn activities supporting this lesson. Learn more about the Balance My Day Nutrition Education Curriculum.

Next week part 2 is about teaching the fruits and vegetables groups using MyPlate and the Healthy6 message: Fruits & Veggies Every Day the Tasty Way. Join us!

The Healthy Kids Challenge Healthy6 Ways to Teach MyPlate to Kids Series (healthykidschallenge.wordpress.com)
Wait! Don't Throw Out Your MyPyramid Materials! (healthykidschallenge.wordpress.com)

The Healthy Kids Challenge Healthy6 Ways to Teach MyPlate to Kids Series

2011-06-16T15:47:00.000-05:00

Follow along over the next 6 weeks as I highlight lessons and ideas for using each Healthy6 message to teach MyPlate to kids. Our HKC Healthy6 messages make it fun for kids to learn the MyPlate way. You can continue to count on these six messages to teach kids healthy habits in an easy, simple, and affordable everyday way!

Healthy6 messages = MyPlate messages

Week 1. Smart Servings = Avoid oversized portions. Enjoy your food, but eat less.

Week 2. Fruits & Veggies Every Day the Tasty Way = Make half your plate fruits and veggies.

Week 3. Breakfast GO Power = Make at least half your grains whole grains.

Week 4. Drink Think = Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk. Drink water instead of sugary drinks.

Week 5. Snack Attack = Compare sodium in foods and choose the foods with lower numbers.

Week 6. Active Play, Balance My Day = Be physically active your way.

Meet 3 Middle Schoolers Who Became Chefs for a Day

2011-06-13T13:25:00.000-05:00

3 recipe contest winners were treated to an awesome learning experience! Andrew Hackney, Sara Wright, and Stephanie Williams became Chefs for a Day! Thanks to Johnson & Wales University and Del Monte, classrooms experienced an entertaining and educational visit from a Johnson Wales University (JWU) Chef. Chefs impressed students with their skills during the Chef for a Day visits. Fun and healthy culinary demonstrations were given, cooking and career questions answered, and the winning recipe was prepared with samples for the students to taste! For full story, click here: http://www.healthykidschallenge.com/content/2010-2011-kids-recipe-contest-winners.

8 Kids Health Headlines You Don't Want to Miss

2011-06-10T14:28:00.001-05:00

Keep up with kids health this summer with these 8 headlines that you don't want to miss. From webinars to videos to school awards for health, there's a lot going on!

1. Webinar: "Healthy Choices for School Children: Getting the Junk Foods Out of Schools"

Thursday, June 16, 2011, 12:00 – 1 p.m. EST

Click here to register.

The Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act requires USDA to issue healthy nutrition standards for all foods sold in schools.

2. First Lady Targets Healthy Habits for Toddler Set

Associated Press, Nancy Benac, 06/08/2011

Michelle Obama announced a new national initiative to encourage child care centers to promote healthy eating and exercise habits starting with the littlest Americans.

3. Video: Government Role in Nutrition Guidelines
CSPAN "Washington Journal", Libby Casey, 06/06/2011
Maya Rockeymoore and Walter Olson talk about the role of the federal government in setting nutrition guidelines for schools, and they responded to telephone calls and electronic communications. Topics included new White House dietary recommendations that replace the old food pyramid with a plate visual, obesity, and school meal requirements.

4. Teens Don't Need Sports and Energy Drinks, Pediatricians Say

Time "Healthland", Alice Park, 05/30/2011

In a new report, the nation's pediatricians are advising teens not to down sports drinks like Gatorade and Powerade unless they're actually playing sports and to forgo energy drinks like Java Monster, Red Bull and Full Throttle altogether.

5. Online Video Workshop Series: Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity in Physical Education: James Sallis, Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University; Kenneth Dyar, Coordinator of Physical Education at Delano Union School District; and Jane Russo, Superintendent of Santa Ana Unified District.

6. Is Frequency of Shared Family Meals Related to the Nutritional Health of Children and Adolescents? Amber J. Hammons, PhD, Barbara H. Fiese, PhD http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/127/6/e1565.abstract

7. Alliance for a Healthier Generation to Honor Schools on June 13. The Alliance's Healthy Schools Program will honor more than 250 schools for their work creating healthy environments for students and staff. The event will stream live online on Monday, June 13 from www.HealthierGeneration.org.

8. HealthierUS School Challenge: Last week in the Dallas Independent School District, 154 schools received the gold and bronze awards; the greatest number in a single district.

How Healthy Kids Challenge Aligns with USDA MyPlate

2011-06-06T13:00:00.000-05:00

The MyPyramid symbol has just been replaced by MyPlate! Healthy Kids Challenge will help educators and kids make a smooth transition from MyPyramid to the exciting new MyPlate.

MyPlate is a reminder for Americans to eat according to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

MyPlate illustrates the five food groups using a familiar mealtime visual, a place setting. There isn’t a change in the colors that identify the food groups.

The MyPlate messages are:

Enjoy your food, but eat less.
Avoid oversized portions.
Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.
Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk.
Make at least half your grains whole grains.
Compare sodium in foods like soup, bread, and frozen meals—and choose foods with lower numbers.
Drink water instead of sugary drinks.

These are messages shared in the Healthy Kids Challenge Healthy6. Simple revisions will put this in line with MyPlate.

Healthy Kids Challenge will help educators and kids make a smooth transition from MyPyramid to the exciting new MyPlate. Stay tuned!

MyPlate, Meet 'Colorful Plates'... Helping Kids Be Healthy

2011-06-03T17:05:00.000-05:00

MyPlate is a fun, simplistic way to help kids be healthy. Colorful Plates is just one part of a toolkit developed especially for you to start implementing the new MyPlate today! Use Colorful Plates to help kids and families find ways to color their plates with more fruits and vegetables every day. Here's an example of the simple tips you'll find:

1. Follow the Leader. Be a role model when it comes to eating fruits and vegetables.

2. Ask the Kids. Talk to your kids before doing the grocery shopping about what they like and don’t like. Bring them along to the store and let them pick out some of their favorite fruits and vegetables.

3. Follow the Rainbow. Encourage your kids to eat one fruit or vegetable daily from each of the five major color groups: red, yellow/orange, green, blue/purple white.

These and more tips are part of the Healthy Kids Challenge-CIGNA Mix 6 for Healthy Balance Toolkit, and can be downloaded as a handout called Colorful Plates: Helping Kids Eat Healthier. You may also like activities such as Fruit Face, Grocery Store Detective, and House Hunter, which can be found in the toolkit's Colorful Plates section.

PEP-a-licious Fruit Dessert Recipe

2011-05-31T12:01:00.000-05:00

From a team of 4 middle school students, Kristin Subica, Madison Kizanis, Kathryn Martinez, and Caira Champion, comes this fruity and protein-enchanced dessert!

"Even though we initially did not want to include tofu (since we cringed at the thought), we gave it a try."

PEP-a-licious

Servings: 6-8

3 Tbsp. tapioca
7 Tbsp. sugar
2 c. low fat Greek yogurt
1 egg, the yolk and white separated
1 tsp. vanilla
1/3 c. soft tofu, mashed
1 c. Del Monte Crushed Pineapple in Juice, drained
1 (15-oz.) can Del Monte Healthy Kids Enriched Fruit Cocktail, drained (reserve a few grapes)
1 (15-oz.) can Del Monte No Sugar Added Mandarin Oranges, drained (reserve a few orange segments)
Garnish: Maraschino cherries

Steps:

In a medium saucepan, combine tapioca, 4 Tbsp. sugar, yogurt and egg yolk; stir well. Set aside for 5 min.
In a medium bowl, beat egg whites with electric mixer on high speed until foamy. Gradually add 3 Tbsp. sugar, beating until soft peaks form.
Cook tapioca mixture on medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture comes to a full boil.
Remove from heat and quickly stir in egg whites.
Cool 15 minutes.
Alternately spoon tapioca mixture and Del Monte fruits into parfait glasses. Chill.
Garnish with mandarin oranges, maraschino cherries and grapes.

This healthy kids recipe is a 2010-11 Stirring Up Health National Middle School Recipe Contest Winner. Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) teacher, Suzanne Nozaki, and her class at Pahoa High and Intermediate School, Pahoa, Hawaii, received an Exemplary School Award for exceptional teaching skills using the Stirring Up Health National Middle School Recipe Contest.

Pineapple Porcupine Meatballs

2011-05-23T09:36:00.000-05:00

“I now see that it's fun to experiment with food and that most things will be edible even though I adjust the ingredients.” – Kyler

Kyler Doctor, a middle school student, from our Exemplary Award winning school created this recipe contest standout!

Pineapple Porcupine Meatballs
Servings: 8-10

1 ½ lbs. ground turkey
2/3 c. cooked brown rice
8 c. day-old whole wheat bread, cubed
¼ c. finely chopped onion
1 tsp. salt
¼ tsp. garlic powder
1/8 tsp. pepper
1 c. Del Monte Crushed Pineapple in Juice, drained
3/4 c. Del Monte Organic Diced Tomatoes with Basil, Garlic and Oregano
1 (6 oz.) can Del Monte Organic Tomato Paste
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

Steps:

Mix ground turkey with rice, bread cubes, onion, salt, garlic powder and pepper. Shape ground turkey mixture by tablespoon into 1½” balls.

Place meatballs in 2 ungreased shallow 9” x 9” baking dishes.

Mix remaining ingredients and pour over meatballs.

Cover and bake at 350 degrees for about 45 min.

Uncover the baking dish and heat 15 min. longer.

Breakfast Sidekick Recipe

2011-05-19T08:08:00.000-05:00

Breakfast Sidekick

Thanks to fiber from Del Monte canned fruits and whole wheat bread, this Breakfast Sidekick is an enjoyable healthier version of breakfast casserole. Jake Meyer, a middle school student, from our Exemplary Award winning school created this recipe contest standout!

“I started out using a pineapple casserole idea for my recipe. I am glad I got to try a new way to prepare pineapple.” - Jake

Breakfast Sidekick
Servings: 12-15

½ c. margarine, softened
1 ½ c. sugar
5 eggs
3 egg whites
1 tsp. cinnamon
3 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 (15.25 oz. can) Del Monte Crushed Pineapple in Juice, drained
1 (15 oz. can) Del Monte Healthy Kids Enriched Fruit Cocktail, drained
10 slices day-old whole wheat bread, cubed
12 -15 Del Monte Pineapple Slices (used juice packed)
1 ½ c. vanilla yogurt

Steps:

1. In a large bowl, cream together margarine and sugar.

2. Beat in eggs, egg whites, cinnamon and lemon juice.

3. Stir in pineapple, fruit cocktail and bread cubes.

4. Pour into a greased 13” x 9” baking dish. Bake at 325° for 35-40 mins. or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.

5. Serving suggestion: Place a pineapple slice on serving dish. Spoon yogurt over slice. Top with a serving of “Breakfast Sidekick.”

VERY CHERRY Upside Down Cake

2011-05-16T10:22:00.000-05:00

VERY CHERRY Upside Down Cake

Jurney Walls, a middle school student, from our Exemplary Award winning school created this recipe contest standout!

“I learned how to become a healthier and better baker! I didn’t even consider making substitutions before. Now I will analyze each ingredient that I add.” - Jurney

VERY CHERRY Upside Down Cake
Servings: 15-20
½ c. margarine, melted
1 c. brown sugar
1/3 c. chopped walnuts
½ can (15.25 oz.) Del Monte Crushed Pineapple in Juice (drained; reserve juice and extra fruit)
½ can (15 oz.) Del Monte VERY CHERRY Mixed Fruit in Light Fruit Juice Syrup (drained; reserve juice and extra fruit)
3 eggs
water (add enough water to drained juices to create 1 ¼ c. total)
2 c. flour
1 ½ c. sugar
½ c. non-fat dry milk
2 tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. nutmeg
½ tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
Garnish: Remaining Del Monte Crushed Pineapple & VERY CHERRY Mixed Fruit

Steps:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Pour melted margarine in a 9” x 13” pan.
3. Sprinkle brown sugar and nuts evenly in pan.
4. Cover evenly with pineapple & mixed fruit.
5. In a separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients (except garnish).
6. Pour batter over fruit.
7. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes or until golden.
8. Cool 15 minutes on wire rack, loosen edges; cool 10 more minutes.
9. Invert cake onto large plate.
10. Garnish with reserved pineapple & VERY CHERRY Mixed Fruit.

This healthy kids recipe is a 2010-11 Stirring Up Health National Middle School Recipe Contest Winner. Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) teacher, Suzanne Nozaki, and her class at Pahoa High and Intermediate School, Pahoa, Hawaii, received an Exemplary School Award for exceptional teaching skills using the Stirring Up Health National Middle School Recipe Contest.

Del Monte "Dump Cake" Trifle

2011-05-13T12:55:00.000-05:00

Del Monte "Dump Cake" Trifle

A healthier version of the dump cake—trifle-style! Melissa Akoni, a middle school student, from our Exemplary Award winning school created this recipe contest standout!

Del Monte “Dump-Cake” Trifle
Servings: 20-24
1 (15-oz.) can Del Monte Sliced Yellow Cling Peaches in 100% Juice (not drained)
1 (15.25-oz.) can Del Monte Crushed Pineapple in Juice (not drained)
1 standard box yellow cake mix (used 18.25-oz Betty Crocker Super Moist cake mix)
1 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 tsp. cinnamon
1½ c. walnuts, chopped
6 Tbsp. margarine
6 c. fat-free vanilla yogurt
2 (15-oz.) cans Del Monte Tropical Fruit Salad in 100% Juice, drained (reserve a few pieces for garnish)
Optional garnish: maraschino cherries

Steps:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Lightly grease bottom of 13” x 9” cake pan.
3. “Dump” peaches and pineapple into cake pan. Peaches can be cut into smaller pieces directly in the pan.
4. Using a sifter (or wire strainer), sprinkle dry cake mix, cornstarch and cinnamon over fruit.
5. Sprinkle nuts over pan.
6. Drop small spoonfuls of yogurt (roughly ½ c. amount) and dot very small chunks of margarine evenly over the pan.
7. Bake for 45 min. to 1 hour. Cool completely.
8. Create individual trifles by alternating spoonfuls of yogurt, tropical canned fruits and cake in small trifle dishes.
9. Garnish with reserved canned fruits and (optional) maraschino cherries.

“I had never tasted canned papaya before until I got to try it in Del Monte’s Tropical Fruit Salad.”– Melissa

This healthy kids recipe is a 2010-11 Stirring Up Health National Middle School Recipe Contest Winner. Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) teacher, Suzanne Nozaki, and her class at Pahoa High and Intermediate School, Pahoa, Hawaii, received an Exemplary School Award for exceptional teaching skills using the Stirring Up Health National Middle School Recipe Contest.

Pahoa High and Intermediate School FACS Class Wins Recipe Contest Exemplary Award

2011-05-09T13:58:00.000-05:00

Winning Recipe: Sprownies

Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) teacher, Suzanne Nozaki, and her class at Pahoa High and Intermediate School, Pahoa, Hawaii, received an Exemplary School Award for exceptional teaching skills using the Stirring Up Health National Middle School Recipe Contest.

Using the recipe contest as a class project, Suzanne challenged her students to be creative, attend to detail, strive for a quality recipe and learn about healthy eating and physical activity in the process.

Students submitted six outstanding essays and recipes for desserts, snacks and a main dish. Watch future posts for each winning recipe featuring quotes from the students. If you’d like to view the winners now, they’re featured our web site here: 2010-2011 Kids' Healthy Recipe Contest Winners.

Creamy Mandarin Orange Meringues Recipe

2011-05-05T09:41:00.000-05:00

Creamy Mandarin Orange Meringues

This Creamy Mandarin Orange Meringues recipe is also a winner in the healthy dessert category. Making meringue can be a tricky cooking technique for anyone, let alone a kid, and Stephanie incorporated fruit very nicely to make a healthy, appealing dessert. Coming from a "cooking family" where all the kids help in the kitchen, she had support at home and from her 4-H program.

“I have the Arkansas 4-H program and my mom to thank for giving me guidance and opportunities with foods! This recipe is one you don’t see much anymore and I just made it healthier, and it’s tasty too.” – Stephanie

Creamy Mandarin Orange Meringues
Servings: 12-16

Meringue
4 egg whites
¾ c. granulated sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
¼ tsp. cream of tartar

Fruit Mixture
1 pkg. Dream Whip®
½ c. skim milk
2 (15 oz.) cans Del Monte Mandarin Oranges No Sugar Added, drained

Steps:
1.Prepare meringue by combining egg whites in mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer to blend on low speed for 2 minutes. Now, whip egg whites on high speed for 2 minutes until stiff peaks form.
2.One at a time, add sugar, cream of tartar and vanilla; mixing after each ingredient. Continue beating until mixture holds its shape.
3.On a baking sheet covered with parchment paper, drop the mixture by heaping tablespoons (for small size) or ¼ cup measure (for medium size) and spread into 2x2 or 4x4 circles, respectively.
4.Bake at 250 degrees for 1 to 1-1/2 hours, until meringue is fully cooked and is light and brittle in texture. Remove from the pan and set aside.
5.Prepare the Dream Whip® with skim milk (follow directions on the package).Set aside.
6.Place a prepared meringue on a dessert plate and arrange the mandarin oranges around the bottom of the meringue. Add a tbsp. of whipped topping on top of the meringue and decorate with more mandarin oranges on top. Serve!
7.Store leftover meringue in an airtight container.

For more 2011 Stirring Up Health National Middle School Recipe Contest Winning Recipes, log on to www.healthykidschallenge.com.

Fruity Tarts Recipe

2011-05-02T13:14:00.000-05:00

Fruity Tarts

Fruity Tarts is the recipe contest healthy dessert winner from Sara Wright of Southern Regional Middle School, Manahawkin, NJ. What makes this recipe unique is its combination of whole grain flour and luscious fruits. Sarah loves to bake, so she spent time after school as part of her school FCCLA Club perfecting her recipe for the contest.

“Now that I know I can do more interesting things with canned fruit, I will have that after school, rather than chips or pretzels.”

Fruity Tarts Recipe
Servings: 20

Tart Crust
1-1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1/3 c. honey
1 stick (1/2c.), thawed, unsalted butter, cubed
1/8 tsp. baking soda

Apricot Spread
1 (15 oz.) can Del Monte Lite Apricot Halves in Extra Light Syrup, drained
1 Tbsp. honey
1 tsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. cornstarch

Fruit Topping
1 (15 oz.) can Del Monte Lite Sliced Peaches in Extra Light Syrup, drained
3 ripe kiwi fruit
1 pint fresh strawberries

Cream Cheese Filling
2 (8 oz.) bars low fat cream cheese
4 Tbsp. skim milk
½ tsp. vanilla
2 tbsp. sugar
2 tbsp. honey

Tart Crust

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.
Place flour, honey and baking soda in a food processor. Pulse. Gradually add in butter and pulse until nice dough consistency. (Note: Ingredients can be mixed without food processor.)
Roll dough ¼ inch think on floured surface. Place dough sections into greased mini tart pans and form to fit.
Place completed tart pans on a baking sheet and bake for 7 minutes. Remove from oven and carefully (with a protected hand) press down the risen dough and put back in the oven for another 5 minutes.
Remove baking sheet from the oven and cool completely before removing tarts from the pans.

Apricot Spread - Place all ingredients in the food processor (or blender) and blend to a puree consistency.
Fruit Topping - Chop all remaining fruit into small cubes and mix. Set aside.
Cream Cheese Filling - Combine all ingredients with an electric mixer until creamy.

Assembling the Tarts

Cover the apricot spread on the bottom of the tart shell.
Pipe (with a pastry pipe) or spread a thin layer of cream cheese mixture on top of the spread.
Spoon a heaping tablespoon of fruit on top of the cream cheese mixture. Serve and enjoy!

For more 2011 Stirring Up Health National Middle School Recipe Contest Winning Recipes, log on to www.healthykidschallenge.com.

A+ Sloppy Sandwiches Recipe

2011-04-28T11:13:00.000-05:00

The A+ Sloppy Sandwiches Recipe is the main dish category winner from Mrs. Henry’s OAA Reading Class at Claymount Junior High School in Uhrichsville, OH. A unique combination of lean meat, whole grains, various fresh and canned vegetables and seasonings made this recipe a hands-down favorite. It’s healthful with unique flavors!

Tawnya Rufener, Andrew Hackney, Destinie Devore and Beau Milburn of entered the recipe contest together. As a class assignment, the kids were learning to read recipe cards and cooking measurements. For a fun class activity, their teacher, Mrs. Henry, encouraged them to enter the contest. Their hearty main dish recipe, A+ Sloppy Sandwiches, combined veggies and lean turkey in a whole grain pita pocket.

A+ Sloppy Sandwiches
Servings: 8

1 lb. lean ground turkey
½ c. onion, chopped
1 medium-sized green pepper, chopped
2 (8 oz.) cans Del Monte Organic Tomato Sauce
2 Tbsp. Del Monte Ketchup
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

¼ tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. chili powder

8 whole wheat pita pockets

Steps:

1. Brown ground turkey over medium heat. Add chopped onion and green pepper. Cover the pan and continue to cook for 5-10 minutes until the onion and pepper are soft.

2. Drain off any grease from the meat mixture.

3. Add remainder of ingredients to the pan and stir well. Simmer on low heat until thoroughly heated.

4. Spoon the mixture into the whole wheat pitas and enjoy!

“All of the students in our class were inspired to like cooking by our 7th grade Home Ec. teacher, who retired last year, Mrs. Clough. This recipe contest let us enjoy that fun and motivation, thanks to our current teacher, Mrs. Henry because we no longer are offering Home Ec. class.”

For more 2011 Stirring Up Health National Middle School Recipe Contest Winning Recipes, log on to http://www.healthykidschallenge.com.

Students Win Recipe Contest, Chef for a Day

2011-04-25T12:00:00.000-05:00

Announcing the Stirring Up Health™ Middle School Recipe Contest Winners! Healthy Kids Challenge and featured sponsor, Del Monte, along with educational partners, Johnson & Wales University and Home Baking Association are pleased to announce the winners of the Stirring Up Health™ National Middle School Recipe Contest. Winners’ classrooms will experience an entertaining and educational visit from a Johnson & Wales University Chef!

The 2011 award winning recipes are:

Creamy Mandarin Orange Meringues - Stephanie Williams of Harding Academy, Searcy, AR

Fruity Tarts - Sara Wright of Southern Regional Middle School, Manahawkin, NJ

A+ Sloppy Sandwiches - Mrs. Henry's OAA Reading Class: Tawnya Rufener, Andrew Hackney, Destinie Devore and Beau Milburn of Claymont Junior High Uhrichsville, OH

Click on 2011 Stirring Up Health Middle School Recipe Contest to see their award winning recipes and learn more about the Chef for a Day Grand Prize!

Creativity flows when you get middle school students in the kitchen! The recipe contest is yet another Healthy Kids Challenge interactive tool to help kids learn to eat, move and enjoy a healthy balance. Students create or modify recipes to make them healthier while also setting individual healthy goals.

3 Tips for Eating Out with Your Family - Healthy Choices

2011-04-21T12:00:00.000-05:00

Eating out seems to require a lot of choices. How do you know you’re making healthy choices regarding the foods your family chooses at restaurants? How do your watch portion sizes? Use these healthy tips as a guide.

1. Gather your family together to discuss healthy eating out food choices, before you go.

Make a list of your family’s favorite restaurants.
Considering the menu choices, think about whether there is a variety of foods from the 5 major food groups (Grains, Vegetables, Fruits, Milk, Meat & Beans) served.
Even a restaurant with a limited menu can provide the main meal as a take out to bring home and fill in with salad or veggies, fruit, and whole grain bread.
Put a star next to the restaurants with menu options from most of the 5 major food groups. These will give you a greater variety of healthy food choices.

2. Learn to recognize menu items that are lower in fat and added sugar.

Search a favorite restaurant’s name plus the words “nutrition information” on the internet.
If typical food choices are high in fat and sugar, challenge family members to eat smaller portions or pick a healthier menu item.

3. Make a plan to choose foods lower in fat and sugar next time you eat out. Have every person voice their healthier menu item to choose when they get to the restaurant and follow through with it!

2 Best Ways to Comment on USDA Healthy School Lunch Rules

2011-04-12T15:03:00.000-05:00

The USDA proposed rule, Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, is open to your comments through tomorrow, April 13, 2011. The “ultimate food fight” has brought out heated debates from all sides, a strong indication how important your support is for healthy foods in schools.

1. The Kids’ Safe and Healthful Foods Project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) has organized a comment form with text you can edit and submit to USDA from their site: https://secure3.convio.net/advoc/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=516

2. The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) has a model letter and sample text to assist in submitting your comments. FRAC model letter FRAC sample text

All things considered, the fact is that the National School Lunch Program is going to remain and the proposed rule will make it healthier than it has been. The USDA proposed rule would increase the availability of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free and low-fat fluid milk in school meals; and reduce the levels of sodium and saturated fat in meals. Schools also would be required to stay within the appropriate calorie ranges for each of three age/grade groups, and require students to take a fruit or vegetable serving at each meal. Realistically implementing the changes is going to be a challenge, yes, but not impossible.

Consider those school lunch programs across the country who have already made healthy changes without any increase in reimbursement from the government. How? They have school nutrition staff PLUS people outside of school nutrition – both in the school and in the community - who support healthy eating. They have a school environment that is also supportive of healthy eating. It doesn’t happen overnight either. These schools have put a system into place that has often taken years of cooperation and collaboration from all involved – from students and parents all the way to superintendents and state governments.

Rules will be passed, and with those rules come challenges of school, student, and community support for them; and of proper training and technical assistance in implementing them. Without these elements, we end up with stories like that from the Chicago Tribune and the L.A. Times.

If you'd like additional background information on the issues, click on the link here to the April 5^th edition of Education Week online: Ultimate Food Fight Erupts as Feds Recook School Lunch Rules

Kids' Safe and Healthful Foods Project Aims to Revolutionize School Cafeterias (news.change.org)
Chicago school bans homemade lunches, the latest in national food fight (1autolatry.wordpress.com)
Healthy School Lunches Are Not a Myth (news.change.org)

Healthy Quinoa Recipes for Kids

2011-04-07T16:00:00.001-05:00

Get kids into the kitchen with these quick and easy to prepare quinoa recipes. They’ll love the versatile little super-grain as it teaches them some handy cooking skills!

The one that started this conversation was Matt Bernard’s Fruity Quinoa Salad Recipe, a 2010 National Stirring Up Health Middle School Recipe Contest Winner. Click on the link to find the recipe and learn more. Here are four more recipes to try with kids:

1. Confetti Quinoa– Thanks to fellow blogger Roxann McCann (the Nursing School Blog) for sharing this easy snack or side dish from KidsHealth.org with us.
2. Quinoa, Corn, and Tomato Salad– A taste of summer in this quick recipe from Cooking Light.
3. Orange Quinoa Salad– An especially colorful, nutrient-rich recipe also from Cooking Light. This salad can easily go from snack to side dish to main dish with the suggestions provided.
4. Quinoa, Spinach, and Walnut Stir-Fry– Simple and fresh ingredients and easy, too; thanks to our friends at Relish.

Enjoy! Let us know if you like these!

23 Ways to Eat Right with Color!

2011-04-04T08:00:00.002-05:00

You know, every day is a good day to Eat Right with Color. You don’t have to wait for National Nutrition Month every year to take the challenge! Here is a convenient listing of all the challenges from our “Eat Right with Color Challenge”. If you missed it in March, we challenge you to start now! You may also want to use these for easy newsletter tips, payroll inserts, or even bulletin board ideas.

Eat Right with Fruit. The color of my favorite fruit is _____. Challenge yourself to eat fruits of this color today.
Eat Right with Veggies. The color of my favorite veggie is ______. Challenge yourself to eat veggies of this color today.
Mix it up! Make a fruit smoothie every morning for breakfast. Try frozen berries and banana slices mixed with low-fat yogurt, and even a tablespoon of peanut butter.
Pack some power. Toss some baby carrots or celery sticks into a plastic sack and into your bag before leaving the house each morning. Challenge yourself to eat them before lunch!
Rate Your Plate! Find out how you rate when it comes to making daily meal choices. http://www.eatright.org/NNM/content.aspx?id=5334
Color your plate with whole grains & explore the variety! Try barley, brown rice, bulgur or quinoa; in a soup, side dish or salad.
Fruit Snacks. Try fruit as part of one snack each day. Choose from your favorite fruit – fresh, frozen, canned or dried!
Veggies PLUS. Eat an additional serving of veggies for dinner every day; Del Monte’s Recipes for Wellness make it easy!
Healthy Dessert Alert. Have applesauce, fruit cocktail, or canned peaches for dessert.
Veggie Fresh. At the market, make it a point to purchase some fresh vegetables on sale and eat them for a meal within 24 hours.
Color your snack with calcium. Try low-fat cheese and apple slices, use blended low-fat cottage cheese as a veggie dip, top canned fruits with low-fat yogurt, or drink a glass of low-fat milk.
Canned on hand? Eat a can of veggies from your pantry. Keep a good supply using Del Monte’s handy pantry list.
Be Creative! Combine different fruit and veggie colors and flavors. Strawberries/bananas, tomatoes/peppers, or pineapple salsa.
Nature’s Fast Food. Carry home-made fruit snack packs when traveling or on the go!
Color Champions! Increase your kids’ fruit and vegetable intake by trying any one of the tasty winning recipes from last year’s Stirring Up Health Recipe Contest.
Eat Right with White. White foods have colorful nutrients too! Kids can try mushrooms and onions on top of a grilled steak, a fresh garden salad, and sliced bananas.
Fresh, frozen or canned: It’s easy for kids to eat an additional serving of veggies at dinner tonight. Try an easy Del Monte recipe with added veggies.
Go Green! For lunch kids can enjoy a leafy green salad before they eat anything else.
Change the texture: Use pureed fruits (berries, apples, peaches, pears) to top kids’ pancakes, French toast or waffles! So different and so yummy!
Try veggies in a veggie – stuffed peppers – for a great tasting snack or side dish. See Del Monte’s healthy recipes for ideas!
Canned Counts. Open up a can of veggies or fruit and enjoy for a healthy afternoon snack!
Delicious Dessert. Plan to eat fresh or canned fruit for dessert after every evening meal, instead of high fat or sugary options.
Dip It. Plan to snack on fresh veggies and add a tasty low-fat dip.

You can also find these listed by week at these links:

Eat Right with Color Challenge-Week 1

Eat Right with Color Challenge-Week 2

Eat Right with Color Challenge-Week 3

Eat Right with Color Challenge-Week 4

Eat Right with Color Challenge-Week 5

Eat Right with Color Challenge: Week 5

2011-04-01T11:37:00.000-05:00

Thank you for participating in the Healthy Kids Challenge Eat Right with Color Challenge during National Nutrition Month 2011. Every weekday of March we have posted on Twitter a new daily color-eating challenge. Our “final four” are here for you. (Coincidentally, the NCAA Final Four is this weekend, but that’s another blog post…)

Week 5 – March 28-31, 2011

1. Try veggies in a veggie - stuffed peppers - for a great tasting snack or side dish. See Del Monte's healthy recipes for ideas!

2. Canned Counts. Open up a can of veggies or fruit and enjoy for a healthy afternoon snack!

3. Delicious Dessert. Plan to eat fresh or canned fruit for dessert after every evening meal, instead of high fat or sugary options.

4. Dip It. Plan to snack on fresh veggies and add a tasty low-fat dip.

Remember, if you completed the Eat Right with Color Challenge and you tell us about it, you can enter to win a “colorful” prize! Leave a comment here or email tammy@healthykidschallenge.com !

6 Tips for 2011 PEP Grant Writers

2011-03-29T16:13:00.000-05:00

The 2011 PEP Grant competition is here! Here are some tips from Healthy Kids Challenge and our Physical Education partner, SPARK, the most field tested and research based PE program ever. To date, more than 100 PEP grants have been awarded to organizations that chose to implement SPARK curriculum/training!

1. Commit to creating a culture of health, where the total environment supports healthy eating and physical activity opportunities every day.

2. Plan an IGNITE workshop into the proposal.

3. Integrate nutrition education into physical education classes utilizing HKC resources, training, and distance assistance.

4. Create and/or enhance physical activity and nutrition-related policies that promote healthy eating and physical activity throughout students’ everyday lives.

5. Create or enhance the nutrition education component of your health education curriculum.

6. Measure elementary and middle school student nutrition using appropriate assessment tools. HKC can design these tools for you!

To make it easier we have some sample text for grant writers at this link.

If you have questions about the process or need more assistance, please contact us toll-free: 888-259-6287, or email vickie@healthykidschallenge.com, or contact SPARK toll-free: 800-SPARK-PE, or email spark@sparkpe.org.

2011 PEP Grant Information

Teacher Tips: Healthy Classroom Rewards

2011-03-28T15:53:00.000-05:00

Here are some tips for transitioning from candy and food rewards to healthy non-food rewards. A simple key to success is to show your excitement about the rewards, and in turn the kids will get excited too! Add to the culture of health at school by using these nonfood rewards and jumpstart your own creative ideas.

Fun for all ages:

Extra music and reading time
Homework coupon
Time for music and dancing
Coupon for prizes and privileges
Music while doing school work
Certificate/trophy/ribbon/plaque
Chat break at the end of class

For specific elementary, middle, or high school tips download our Healthy Classroom Rewards tip sheet for motivational ideas anytime!

What non-food rewards are tried and true in your classroom?

Eat Right with Color Challenge: Week 3

2011-03-18T14:58:00.000-05:00

Spinach Spinwheels-A 2010 Stirring Up Health Recipe Contest Winner!

Congratulations on making it through week 3 of the Eat Right with Color Challenge. Here is a summary of this week's daily challenges. Remember to keep it up on the weekends! You're halfway there!

Veggie Fresh. At the market, make it a point to purchase some fresh vegetables on sale and eat them for a meal within 24 hours.

Color your snack with calcium. Try low-fat cheese and apple slices, use blended low-fat cottage cheese as a veggie dip, top canned fruits with low-fat yogurt, or drink a glass of low-fat milk.

Canned on hand? Eat a can of veggies from your pantry. Keep a good supply using Del Monte’s handy pantry list.

Be Creative! Combine different fruit and veggie colors and flavors. Strawberries/bananas, tomatoes/peppers, or pineapple salsa.

Nature’s Fast Food. Carry home-made fruit snack packs when traveling or on the go!

Partner Spotlight: Lifeway Foods 25th Anniversary Tour

2011-03-17T14:39:00.001-05:00

We'd like to recognize our friends at Lifeway Foods for their amazing support of nutrition education for kids during their coast-to-coast 25th Anniversary Tour. Their blog post We're Gonna Party Like It’s 1986! gives just a glimpse of the fun atmosphere surrounding the 25th Anniversary celebration! Kicking things off is a fabulous cross-country tour, an 11-week, non-stop party from coast to coast, celebrating everything fun and funky about the 1980s.

What's YOUR favorite 80's memory? We've got some staffers who grew up in the 80's and they've shared just a few: Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Boomboxes and cassette tapes, and BIG Hair and side ponytails! Add your own favorites on Lifeway's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/LifewayKefir!

The tour kicked off last week at the Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim. Now the retro road trip is hitting the road, with plans for weeklong stops in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, Dallas, Chicago, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and Boston. The party will culminate in New York City, with Lifeway Foods Executives ringing the NASDAQ stock market closing bell in Times Square on May 16.

Health-conscious families, college students, and fitness enthusiasts alike are invited to the free festivities, which will celebrate the 1980s with an awesome modern twist. Activities include

pedaling the customized human-powered blender bike, blending tasty Lifeway Kefir smoothies
taking a blast-from-the past 1980s-styled photo using green screen technology
participating in digital games
enjoying Foursquare check-in prizes and
sampling Lifeway's healthy and delicious lowfat flavors, including new Birthday Cake flavor!

In addition to throwing this totally rad party to commemorate 25 years in business, Lifeway Foods will donate a total of $25,000 to Healthy Kids Challenge. The goal is to have guests in each city generate 2,500 minutes of pedal power on the human-powered blender bikes within the week. For every minute a guest pedals, Lifeway will donate $1 to the organization. Lifeway’s donation will enable us to expand the number of schools and youth organizations we can support with our nutrition education programs in the ten cities the anniversary tour visits.

According to Edward and Julie Smolyansky, CFO and CEO of Lifeway Foods, respectively,

“We are beyond excited to reach this milestone in our company history and celebrate with a national 80s themed anniversary party! Because kefir is a nutritional beverage loaded with probiotics, calcium and protein, Healthy Kids Challenge is the perfect partner for Lifeway Foods as we are both focused on nutrition and the importance of living a healthy life.”

We are thrilled that Lifeway Foods has chosen Healthy Kids Challenge as the beneficiary of their generous donation. Together we can make a difference in young people’s lives!

Want to see if the tour will be in a city near you? Check out our map here.

To stay updated on Lifeway’s 25th Anniversary mobile tour, “Like” Lifeway Kefir on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lifewaykefir or follow Lifeway on Twitter @lifeway_kefir.

Books with Food, Nutrition, and Physical Activity Messages for Preschool Children

2011-03-14T13:27:00.001-05:00

Here is our most recommended resource for preschool reading, nutrition, and activity!

The Michigan Team Nutrition Preschool Book List

An annotated list of over 250 books with postive food, nutrition, and physical activity messages for young children.
Here's a link to the downloadable PDF file: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/PreschoolBooklist_290284_7.pdf
Or, visit the Michigan Team Nutrition Web site. Go to: http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,1607,7-140-43092_53882---,00.html

Did you know the original list for elementary children is updated? The UPDATED Michigan Team Nutrition Booklist: An annotated list of over 400 books with postive food, nutrition, and physical activity messages for children in grades K-2, is available for download at the same link above!

Reading...Smart Eating...Moving...Balance My Day!

Eat Right with Color Challenge: Week 2

2011-03-10T07:38:00.000-06:00

Welcome back to Healthy Kids Challenge Eat Right with Color Challenge! How did you color your daily diet this week? Was it easier than last week?

Week 2 - March 7-11, 2011

1.Rate Your Plate! Find out how you rate when it comes to making daily meal choices. http://www.eatright.org/NNM/content.aspx?id=5334

2.Color your plate with whole grains & explore the variety! Try barley, brown rice, bulgur or quinoa; in a soup, side dish or salad.

3.Fruit Snacks. Try fruit as part of one snack each day. Choose from your favorite fruit - fresh, frozen, canned or dried!

4.Veggies PLUS. Eat an additional serving of veggies for dinner every day; Del Monte's Recipes for Wellness make it easy!

5.Healthy Dessert Alert. Have applesauce, fruit cocktail, or canned peaches for dessert.

Remember the weekends count too! Here's what to do: Pick one of this week's challenges and repeat it on Saturday. Repeat it again on Sunday, or pick another for Sunday. It's simple!

Coming up...canned veggie ideas and more!

Healthy Breakfast Pita Pockets

2011-03-07T09:09:00.000-06:00

"I really like breakfast and I like tacos, so I combined the 2 for my recipe.” – Hannah. Hannah Beh of Ontario Middle School, Ontario, OH, won the 2010 recipe contest with her "Healthy Breakfast Pita Pockets" recipe. It's packed with yummy veggies and protein that will get your day off to a nutritious start!
Hannah's Family and Consumer Sciences teacher, Mrs. Klaus, presented the recipe contest as a class assignment and encouraged the students to enter. Hannah learned about MyPyramid, kept a food log, and determined the calories she needed based on her exercise routine.

Healthy Breakfast Pita Pockets

1 pkg. whole grain wheat pita pockets (use 2)

6 eggs (2 whole eggs and 4 whites)

1/8 c. skim milk

1 pkg. (8oz.) low fat shredded mozzarella cheese

1 pkg. (6 oz.) pre-cooked chicken breast strips

Salsa: ½ can (14.5 oz.) Del Monte Petite Cut Diced Tomatoes

1 can (8.75 oz.) Del Monte Whole Kernel Canned Corn

1 green onion, finely diced

Steps:

1. Cut 2 whole grain wheat pita pockets in half. Set aside.

2. Make the salsa: Smash the contents of ½ can of Del Monte petite Cut Diced Tomatoes in a bowl. Drain the Del Monte Whole Kernel Corn and place in the bowl with tomatoes. Add the diced green onion and stir. Set aside.

3. Separate 4 eggs putting the whites into a bowl. Add 2 whole eggs and 1/8 c. of skim milk. Whisk the egg mixture until well blended.

4. Scramble/cook the egg mixture in a non-stick frying pan.

5. Lay the chicken breast strips on a microwave-safe plate and warm in the microwave for 30 seconds.

6. Place the pita pockets on a microwave-safe plate and warm in the microwave for 15-20 seconds.

7. Assemble the pockets. Place the chicken on the bottom layer of the pita, next add some of the scrambled eggs, top with the salsa mixture and shredded cheese."The project was interesting and fun. I definitely learned that I need to eat more vegetables." –Hannah

For more recipes and info, visit the National Stirring Up Health Middle School Recipe Contest page.

Eat Right with Color Challenge: Week 1

2011-03-04T09:01:00.000-06:00

My favorite color of fruit is red...juicy, summer strawberries!

Welcome to the Healthy Kids Challenge Eat Right with Color Challenge! Come here to see the weekly summary of the Challenge! There were only four days this first week, did you meet the challenge?

Week 1 - March 1-4, 2011

Eat Right with Fruit. The color of my favorite fruit is _____. Challenge yourself to eat fruits of this color today.
Eat Right with Veggies. The color of my favorite veggie is ______. Challenge yourself to eat veggies of this color today.
Mix it up! Make a fruit smoothie every morning for breakfast. Try frozen berries and banana slices mixed with low-fat yogurt, and even a tablespoon of peanut butter.
Pack some power. Toss some baby carrots or celery sticks into a plastic sack and into your bag before leaving the house each morning. Challenge yourself to eat them before lunch!

Remember the weekends count too! Here's what to do:

Pick one of this week's challenges and repeat it on Saturday.
Repeat it again on Sunday, or pick another for Sunday.
It's simple!

Coming next week…meal and dessert challenges.

Get Ready, Get Set, Eat Right with Color!

2011-02-28T10:32:00.000-06:00

Healthy Kids Challenge is Blogging National Nutrition Month! Eat Right with Color is this year's National Nutrition Month theme, and you know we love a good challenge! So we've created the Healthy Kids Challenge Eat Right with Color Challenge.

Our challenge to you:

Eat Right with Color every day of National Nutrition Month!

Don't worry, we're here to help. Every weekday we'll give you a different Eat Right with Color Challenge by posting it on Twitter. You're not off the hook on the weekends, you may choose any two of the previous challenges to take.

Do this, tell us about it, and you could win a "colorful" prize.

Eat Right with Color Challenge: Week 4

2011-02-25T08:00:00.004-06:00

Congrats on making it through week 4; you’re in the home stretch! Here are this week’s Eat Right with Color Challenges for March 21-25, 2011:

1. Color Champions! Increase your kids’ fruit and vegetable intake by trying any one of the tasty winning recipes from last year’s Stirring Up Health Recipe Contest.

2. Eat Right with White. White foods have colorful nutrients too! Kids can try mushrooms and onions on top of a grilled steak, a fresh garden salad, and sliced bananas.

3. Fresh, frozen or canned: It’s easy for kids to eat an additional serving of veggies at dinner tonight. Try an easy Del Monte recipe with added veggies.

4. Go Green! For lunch kids can enjoy a leafy green salad before they eat anything else.

5. Change the texture: Use pureed fruits (berries, apples, peaches, pears) to top kids’ pancakes, French toast or waffles! So different and so yummy!

Hang in there for the final four challenges next week!

School Lunches Need Some Real Meal Appeal

2011-02-24T14:09:00.000-06:00

School lunches have a challenge ahead! Did you see the headline in the Chicago Tribune?

You can lead kids to broccoli, but you can't make them eat
http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/ct-met-new-school-lunches-20110220,0,6830768.story

Here’s the bottom line: Healthy foods don’t make healthier kids unless the kids eat them and kids won’t eat them unless they taste good.

Just like in changing whole-district wellness policies, you’ve got to create buy-in, even with kids. Give them some control in these inevitable changes to their lunch-time favorites. Kids love to give their opinions, right?

Let them taste-test new menu items before putting them on the menu.
Give them a voice by voting for their favorite fresh fruits and veggies.
Have them create posters and collages in the classroom to support an upcoming change to the menu.
Hold a contest to name the new menu items.
Build cooking skills by allowing them to help when trying new recipes.

By getting kids involved in the process, they begin to feel ownership for the changes ahead. The foods become more appealing just because they helped choose or taste them in the first place.

Fruity Quinoa Salad Recipe

2011-02-21T17:23:00.000-06:00

Fruity Quinoa Salad

Matt Bernards of Yamhill-Carlton Intermediate School, Yamhill, OR., submitted his “Fruity Quinoa Salad” side dish recipe combining trendy quinoa and fruit with creative ingredients. Matt has entered recipe contests in 4-H, county and state fairs, but this contest required healthy recipe ingredients and challenged him to consider healthy lifestyle changes.

“I love to put fruit in my food; it gives it a great fresh and sweet taste.” — Matt

Recipe Name: Fruity Quinoa Salad

Recipe Category: Meal Side Dish

Servings: 6-8

1 c. dry quinoa
15 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
15 oz. can Del Monte Canned Peach Chunks, drained
1 c. fresh baby spinach leaves
½ c. sweetened, dried cranberries
1/3 c. toasted pecans, rough chopped
Dressing: 15 oz. can Del Monte Lite Apricot Halves

Steps:

Cook quinoa according to package directions.
Once cooked, place in a large bowl to cool for a few minutes.
Add the black beans, peach chunks, baby spinach, dried cranberries, and pecans to the bowl and mix lightly.
In a food processor, add the apricots and juice. Process until smooth.
Pour the apricot dressing over the salad ingredients and stir. Serve.

“I played basketball this year and I’m trying track. I’m eating healthier… getting stronger and feeling better. I’m going to keep this up!”–Matt

For more recipes and info, visit the National Stirring Up Health Middle School Recipe Contest page.

Teachers, Parents, Kids: Drink Water! Simple Lesson and Tips!

2011-02-16T15:01:00.000-06:00

Teachers - We have simple Drink Think-Water Classroom Activities for you! Click on the link to see them! Use the parent tip sheet and the kids' activity sheet to link the lesson from school to home.

Parents - Did you know? Cold weather can actually increase your risk of dehydration. According to research, our brains just don’t make hydration a priority when the temperature drops, like it does in hot weather. All the more reason to help your family key into winter water drinking habits with these tips!

Kids - So what does it matter if I get dehydrated, you may ask? Test what you know about your “wintertime” water needs with these true and false questions. True or False: To get more water in the day, it’s best to drink a couple of large glasses of water than sips of water often. Click on the Kids link to find the answers!

Healthy Kids Challenge is proud to have partnered with Nestlé Pure Life. Thanks to the success of the Nestle Pure Life Pledge benefiting our organization, $50,000 has been donated so far to help in our fight against childhood obesity.

Joan of Boston, Mass. is our February My Healthy Challenge Winner!

2011-02-14T15:27:00.000-06:00

Joan V. Czarnowsk-Hill of Boston, MA, entered the My Healthy Challenge monthly drawing and won! She completed the most recent challenge, and entered this success story:

Kids Learn Healthy Portions at YMCA Afterschool Program

I am a Registered Dietitian and consultant for the Jewish Guild for the Blind. I've been going to the local YMCA afterschool programs to teach a class on healthy portions to kids. Due to the January Challenge, Fruits & Veggies - Every Day the Tasty Way, we have recently talked about the importance of fruits and veggies and I ask how many the kids eat. I teach them how to make a healthy snack, rolling a banana in cocoa powder along with shredded coconut. It's an easy and tasty snack! I did this for a class last month and am doing it again in the last of the Y's programs in the West Roxbury, Dedham and Needham areas of Boston.

Enjoy seeing the successes of our other My Healthy Challenge winners here, and sign up to take the Challenge yourself here!

Valentine's Day Healthy Snack Ideas

2011-02-10T08:00:00.016-06:00

Looking for fun-loving Valentine’s Day healthy snack ideas?

Try Sweetheart Pinwheels or Cupid’s Love Potion!

Sweetheart Pinwheels - 4 (6 inch) soft whole-grain tortilla shells, low-fat strawberry cream cheese, 4 Tbsp. strawberry jam. Spread cream cheese to the edge of each tortilla. Spread 1 Tbsp. of strawberry jam just down the center. Roll the tortilla up so that the strawberry jam runs the length of the roll. Chill in refrigerator for 50-60 min. When ready to serve, slice across the roll into 1-inch bites so they look like a pinwheel.

See more at http://www.healthykidschallenge.com/

School Challenge Spotlight on Healthy School Meals

2011-02-07T10:28:00.000-06:00

The Healthy Kids Challenge School Challenge Spotlight features a model school that made simple sustainable changes. Success went beyond expectations, positively affecting kids' attitudes and behaviors!

Jackson Middle School Improved Fruit & Veggie Consumption
Expanding their healthy eating options and offering more choices of vegetables at meals had a healthy impact on fruit and vegetable consumption! Middle school students (600 total enrollment) are now eating over 400 more servings combined of fruits and vegetables at lunch each day! Read success story.
Congratulations! Jackson Middle School was a School Challenge school in the HKC-CIGNA Making Strides Program recently.

Dietary Guidelines in 3 Words: Enjoy Healthy Balance

2011-01-31T17:14:00.000-06:00

At Healthy Kids Challenge we talk a lot about balancing the food you eat (calories in) with active play every day (calories out). It's no surprise that the Dietary Guidelines picked balance as a key message. "There's no quick fix. It's all about calories in and calories out," US Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said after announcing the release of the 2010 Dietary Guidlines.

One unexpected, often overlooked and underestimated, recommendation is for us to "Enjoy your food, but eat less." Thank you, Dietary Guidelines Committee! Thank you for recognizing the enjoyment of eating healthy as a priority for all Americans! We know it's key to successful behavior change, but most people struggle with the idea that they can enjoy all foods as part of a healthy diet.

After all, we strive to help people help kids every day, to eat, move, and enjoy a healthy balance. Of course the details of increase these foods and reduce these foods are there in black and white in the policy document. For now, let's just let this blog post celebrate the emphasis of the Dietary Guidelines on enjoying healthy balance!

Video: Kinsley Library Reads to Preschoolers

2011-01-24T08:00:00.001-06:00

The librarians at the Kinsley Library shot this video during the 2010 Kansas Reads to Preschoolers Week. The story featured was "Up, Down, and Around" and they utilized new tools and skills they learned during a grant workshop presented by Healthy Kids Challenge. See how much fun the kids have acting out the story and then making their soup! Want to see more like this?

Video: Walk Through the Pyramid Event

2011-01-17T14:55:00.000-06:00

See what the Walk Through the Pyramid is all about! This is the first of a series of clips from our most recent event at the Disney World Marathon Weekend Expo, sponsored by CIGNA. Learn more about the event in past Disney Marathon Weekend Expo blog posts.

3 Tips to Get Your Family In Motion

2011-01-10T14:01:00.000-06:00

During the day, time can slip by without a dose of healthy physical activity unless a conscious plan is made. Add morsels of movement into your family's schedule with these suggestions to make a routine of physical activity!

1. Encourage yourself and family members to intentionally walk a little extra each day.

2. Talk with your kids about being physically active during school recess time. Discuss the playground equipment and other options available for them. Remind kids that to feel and look healthy, the goal is 60 minutes of daily physical activity and an active recess adds to their total minutes.

3. Set family goals for a healthy amount of “screen time” allowed during the day. Sitting in front of a computer, T.V. or video gamer limits the time you can be active!

Simple Morning Activity Tips and Tricks

2011-01-03T14:54:00.000-06:00

Ready, Set, GO for Active Play EVERY Day! For those who consider morning the best time of the day; slip a little physical activity in!

PLAN morning exercise! Try the following tips to give you a “boost”.

Lay exercise clothes out before going to bed.
Use a reliable alarm to wake up. Start with 15-20 minutes earlier than your normal waking time.
If exercising at home, find a quiet spot so that other family members won’t be disturbed, or include everyone in a fun morning routine! Add music for some pep to the day.

Explore new exercise options! If your kids are early risers, get them involved!

March in place for a minute or so to get the blood flowing and to warm your muscles. Take deep breathes in every now and then, and breathe out slowly.
While standing, hold your arms out and away from your sides and move them in circles going forward and backward. Start with 3-5 circles and add more over time.
For a full body stretch, imagine you are picking apples from a high branch-reaching and using all your muscles to get to the highest apple. Alternate reaching with your left hand/arm, then right. Breathe deeply as you stretch. Relax.

There you go, you’ve exercised and it wasn’t that hard!

#1 Snack Attack Tip

2010-12-28T13:50:00.000-06:00

What is the snack you reach for most often? Is it a soft drink, cookies, candy or chips? If so, is it time for a “Snack Attack”?

What's our #1 Snack Attack tip?

Serving sizes matter! Look at what and how much you eat.

First, choose a packaged food that is one of your typical snacks.
Without looking at the food label, place the amount you eat on a plate and then use a measuring cup (or count the pieces) to determine your usual portion size.
Now compare this to what is identified as a serving on the food label. Is there much of a size difference?

“Attack snacks” by choosing a little less when you eat high fat and sugar snacks – or eat them less often. To see what a difference it can make, consider the following:

Compare different portions of following snacks’ serving sizes:

1 oz. (10-15) Potato Chips—about 153 calories and 10 grams fat
2 oz. (20-30) Potato Chips—about 306 calories and 20 grams fat

An extra 10-15 chips adds around 150 calories and 2 teaspoons of fat.

12 oz. Soft Drink—about 160 calories and 43 grams sugar
20 oz. Soft Drink—about 270 calories and 72 grams sugar

Save 110 calories and about 7 teaspoons of sugar by choosing a 12 oz can

Set a goal for your family to read labels of your favorite snacking foods to learn about serving sizes, and to recognize fat and sugar content!

Eat Your Colors of Fruits & Veggies

2010-12-16T15:17:00.000-06:00

Healthy Kids Challenge*, a leading national nonprofit, is dedicated to solutions that help kids and families enjoy healthier eating and an active lifestyle. Take a fresh approach to eating your colors of Fruits & Veggies - Every Day the Tasty Way!

Eating 5-9 servings of fruits and veggies each day in a “rainbow of colors” is a clue to the vitamins, minerals, fiber and phytochemicals that keep us feeling great.

Eat your colors daily using the 5 fruit and veggie color groups as a guide.

blue/purple -- green -- white -- yellow/orange -- red
Blackberries
Blueberries
Purple figs
Purple grapes
Raisins
Eggplant
Purple Belgian endive
Avocados
Green apples
Limes
Broccoli
Celery
Leafy greens
Snow peas
Bananas
White peaches
Cauliflower
Jicama
Onions
Potatoes
Turnips
Apricots
Cantaloupe
Carrots
Lemons
Mangoes
Pineapples
Pumpkin
Blood oranges
Cherries
Pomegranates
Strawberries
Beets
Red peppers
Tomatoes

It's easy to eat Fruits & Veggies-Every Day the Tasty Way!

Breakfast - 100% orange juice (yellow/orange)
Lunch - purple grapes (blue/purple), cucumber and tomato slices (green and red)
Dinner - spinach salad (green), strawberries (red)
Snacks - raisins (blue/purple), banana (white)

And then try some of these tips to help your family eat the colors every day!

Healthy Kids Challenge encourages the “start where you are” approach. Start with one extra fruit and veggie at a time. “More is Better” when it comes to fruits and veggies!

Take your kids to the grocery store and explore different options of fruits and veggies.
Have your kids pick a new fresh fruit or veggie to try. What about tangerines, cabbage, or Kohlrabi?
Stroll by the frozen foods section and choose frozen fruits to mix in a yogurt smoothie.
Take a look at dried cherries, apricots, raisins, and cran-raisins as quick snacks or salad toppings.
Stock your cupboards with canned fruits and veggies to provide healthy choices any time of year!

Set a family goal to add a greater variety of fruit and veggie “colors” this next week. See who can eat from all 5 colors in a day!

*Healthy Kids Challenge is a nationally recognized nonprofit whose mission is to help school, health, business and community leaders take action for kids to eat, move, and enjoy a healthy balance.

3 Tips for Kids’ Health during the Holidays

2010-12-14T17:27:00.000-06:00

1. Role-model Healthy Behaviors

Show your kids how to eat healthy portions of foods and treats by using moderation in your own eating.
Choose to eat healthy snacks between meals like raw veggies and low fat Ranch dressing, low fat cheese and whole grain crackers, or fruit.

2. Plan ahead for holiday eating.

Offer to bring a fruit or veggie platter with a low fat dip to a gathering, so you can ensure there will be lower fat/sugar foods to eat.
Choose your beverages wisely. Set a limit for higher sugar/fat drinks (punch, soda, egg nog). Water is your healthiest choice!

3. Plan ahead for physical activity.

Get up a little earlier to stretch or do yoga for a great start to your day!
Climb the stairs, park a little further away--add more movement in your daily routines.

Send me other tips that have worked for you!

4 Healthy Tips for the Hectic Holiday Season

2010-12-07T17:18:00.000-06:00

Too busy to keep up with a healthful routine this holiday season?

The hectic holiday season is here, which means little time will be left for keeping up with a healthy lifestyle. Healthy Kids Challenge Partner in Health Nestlé Pure Life has four easy tips to keep you on track all season long.

Traveling? Remember Active Play Every Day! Don’t forget to pack your sneakers or walking shoes! Check out your accommodations before you get there to see what they have to offer. Is there a gym, pool, or any walking activities you can take part in?

Shopping? While shopping this holiday season, you can find many opportunities to be active just by hustling from store to store and standing in line. Also, whenever possible, try parking farther from the store and taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

Hydrated? Do a Drink Think! Remember to grab a bottled water for the road! As you get extra busy during the holiday season juggling work, home and errands you may not meet your fluid needs. And a lack of water can leave you dehydrated; even mild dehydration can drain your energy. That’s why keeping yourself hydrated during this time of year is just as important as any time of the year.

Skipping meals? Discover Smart Servings! Trying to save calories for a big party or get-together? Skipping breakfast and/or lunch to bank your calories isn’t a good idea. A better bet: Eat breakfast and lunch as usual, but trim a few calories from each meal. That way you have a few extra calories to spend at the holiday get-together.
Cheers to a healthy holiday season from Healthy Kids Challenge and Nestlé Pure Life!

Free Field Trips Focus on Food and Health

2010-11-30T14:20:00.000-06:00

Healthy Kids Challenge and Field Trip Factory are partnering to share joint visions in guiding communities to make healthy living a habit for kids and their families. Field Trip Factory has been a leader in experience-based learning for over 15 years.

In many communities, Field Trip Factory is providing community-based field trips, which address a variety of social needs and also support children’s classroom curriculum. The Nutrition, Health & Wellness field trips transform local grocery aisles into learning centers as students sample their way to a healthier lifestyle. Eating healthy, making smart choices and learning how to integrate exercise into daily living are the primary messages of these hands-on field trips. The following field trips are hosted by local grocers:

Healthy Eaters
Well-balanced Kids
Be A Smart Shopper!
Guiding Stars
A Healthy Me by the Numbers
Be A Healthy Shopper
Explore the Store!
Kid Healthy Ideas
Be a Healthy Buddy
Challenge Your Health IQ

Use the ZIP Code Finder to see what’s available in your community!

Happy, Healthy Thanksgiving

2010-11-23T14:33:00.003-06:00

The Healthy Kids Challenge Healthy6 messages are your keys to a healthy thanksgiving holiday. Each Healthy6 message is highlighted along with a HKC simple tip for success!

Active Play, Balance My Day
Walk instead of watch. Take a walk after Thanksgiving dinner instead of watching TV. Ask the kids if they want to join in!

Breakfast GO Power
Power up with your favorite cereal or even a slice of toast with peanut butter. Breakfast helps keep you from overeating throughout the whole day. Yes, even on Thanksgving breakfast is the most important meal of the day!

Drink Think
Think WATER first. Drink a full glass of water before eating your Thanksgiving meal.

Fruits & Veggies – Every Day the Tasty Way
Plan to bring fresh veggies to snack on, and add a tasty low-fat dip. Carrots, celery, tomatoes, and broccoli are very tasty with some salsa or low-fat ranch!

Smart Servings
Let hunger be your guide (not your eyes). Check your hunger level on a scale of “0″ (running on empty) to “10″ (over-full). Stop eating when you feel mostly full, but could still eat some more.

Snack Attack
The best way to ensure healthy snacks are available on Thanksgiving day? Bring them yourself! Try the simple, tasty veggies and dip above.

Fueling Student Success with Food and Fitness

2010-11-16T15:00:00.003-06:00

Brain breaks for better focus and concentration…

Healthy eating messages sprinkled throughout the school hallways, cafeteria, and classrooms…

Nutrition education woven into PE and core curriculum K-12…

Where is this happening? Check out West Orange, New Jersey school district!

“Teaching our students to maintain a healthy balance with eating and exercise is our top priority. The SPARK program is helping provide the tools and training to achieve this goal”, shared Corinn Giaquinto, Health and Physical Education instructor, Thomas Edison Middle School, West Orange, New Jersey.

Hats off to Thomas Edison Middle School of West Orange Public Schools. The district has been using SPARK in their P.E. department for some time. They recently received a grant from Mountainside Health Foundation to "fuel student success by adding nutrition education".

Vickie L. James, Registered Dietitian and Director of Healthy Kids Challenge (HKC), was the trainer for the West Orange school training. It was the first ever SPARK+HKC nutrition education training. HKC is SPARK's exclusive nutrition education partner.

“From classroom to PE to wellness council members K-12, the representation and enthusiasm shown at the workshop tells me the commitment this district has to student wellbeing. They truly understand the strategy of using good nutrition and physical activity to create a culture of health in the schools. This was the first of many great moments for West Orange Schools,” said Vickie.

Healthy Kids Challenge trainings are tailored to meet school needs for successful implementation of:

realistic wellness policies,
school improvement plans,
TEAM Nutrition guidelines, and
HealthierUS School Challenge program.

Stay tuned for exciting happenings and updates from West Orange schools!

SPARK and HKC wish them well in their commitment to student health!

Wide Availability of High Calorie Beverages in Elementary Schools

2010-11-09T13:52:00.001-06:00

A new study published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine found that almost half of the nation’s public elementary school students could buy unhealthy beverages such as sodas, sports drinks and higher-fat milk during the 2008–09 school year. Help students make the healthier choices by teaching with HKC's *NEW* Food Cards.

The new Food Cards can be utilized to teach all the HKC Healthy6 messages, and in particular, Drink Think. Drink Think teaches children and families to make healthy drink choices. So even if the high-sugar, high-fat drinks are available for purchase at your schools, we have tools and solutions to help you make healthy drink choices.

For instance, the Food Cards can be used to identify different kinds of milk that might all "look" the same at first glance. Individual pictures and names help younger kids to see that milk can be with and without fat. These cards include:

Milk, fat-free (skim)
Milk, low-fat (1%)
Milk, reduced-fat (2%)
Milk, whole (4%)
Milk, flavored (chocolate)

Food Card pictures also include:

fruit-flavored drink
100% fruit juice
tomato juice
soda
sport drink

All the beverage picture cards can help older kids complete nutrition education activities or create a Drink Think bulletin board.

Download in color or black and white, laminate the pages, then cut the food cards and you’re ready to TEACH!

Visit our Online Store for download & purchase info.

2010 Kansas Reads to Preschoolers Week

2010-11-02T17:58:00.001-05:00

We are proud to partner with Kansas Center for the Book for the 2010 Kansas Reads to Preschoolers Week!

The State Library of Kansas and the Kansas Center for the Book proudly announces Up, Down and Around by Katherine Ayres as the selection for the Sixth Annual Kansas Reads to Preschoolers week.

Kansas First Lady Stacy Parkinson will serve as honorary chair for the special week, Nov. 14-20, 2010.

“Reading to our children is a great way to spur their imagination and help establish a life-long love of learning,” said First Lady Parkinson. “I am honored to serve as the chair of this effort, and I encourage every adult to take time to read to a child.”

State Librarian Jo Budler explained, “a child develops language skills before he or she is able to speak, and they develop literary skills long before they can begin to read. So much learning capacity occurs in a child’s first three years that it is imperative that we read to every baby, toddler, and preschooler.”

The 2010 Kansas Reads to Preschoolers Week will focus on food, nutrition and where our food comes from, which is why Up, Down and Around is the statewide book selection.

Local libraries play a big role in early childhood reading and are instrumental to the success of Kansas Reads to Preschoolers. Libraries all over the state will plan special displays of food and nutrition-related books, schedule activities, organize pre-school story hours, and invite participation by various food and nutrition professionals.

It’s estimated that during the Kansas Reads to Preschoolers Week, more than 20,000 Kansas preschoolers will be read to by parents, grandparents, children’s librarians, mayors, elected officials, middle and high school students and many, many others.

5 Healthy Halloween Tips

2010-10-26T14:47:00.003-05:00

Halloween and healthy eating: can the two go hand in hand? Healthy Kids Challenge says “You bet!” With 5 simple healthy Halloween tips you can have your Halloween and health, too.

1. Hand out healthier treats. Look in discount stores or the grocery store’s seasonal aisle for inexpensive items in large quantities. Also keep an eye out for festive packaging. Pretzels are much more exciting in little orange and black single-serving bags.

Food:
Boxes of raisins
Fruit cups, like applesauce, diced peaches
100% fruit sticks
Nut-free trail mixes
Pretzels
Crackers
Mini cereal boxes

Non-food items:
Plastic spider rings
Bracelets
Barrettes
Small toys
Stickers
Tattoos
Coloring books
Bubbles
Trading cards
Miniature decks of playing cards
Party-favor size Play-Doh
Small change – mix pennies, nickels, and dimes

2. Make healthier candy choices! Yes, you can!
Dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate
No gummy or chewy candy that likes to stick to teeth
Buy it as close to Halloween as possible and don’t open it until Halloween

3. Stock up on healthy snacks...before Halloween. Have plenty of fresh fruit and veggies in easy reach to help offset the influx of Halloween “treats”.

4. Drink more water. Have everyone drink a glass of water before they go trick-or-treating and right after they return.

5. Enjoy the treats, but set a limit for everyone in the house. Have kids pick out a set number of treats and give the rest to the “Halloween fairy” in exchange for some non-food item they like. Healthy balance can be maintained through any holiday by returning to your usual habits in a sensible time frame.

Do you have more tips to add to this list? Share your comments!

School Challenge Spotlight: Prairie Point Elementary

2010-10-19T14:06:00.004-05:00

Prairie Point Elementary is making strides in integrating physical activity into the school day! See a snapshot of what this school accomplished in 2 years of working with Healthy Kids Challenge through the HKC-CIGNA Showcase School Challenge. And these are only the physical activity highlights!

Year 1

Increased minutes of motion in 100% of classrooms by 30 minutes per week; a 30% increase over the previous year! Collectively, students are getting an additional 15,000 minutes of activity each week! Some of the steps to this success included:

Integrated activity bursts into core curriculum, which increased from 0% to 40% of classrooms every day.
School district purchased beach balls and scarves for 100% of classrooms.
100% students, 95% teachers, and 5% parents took a 1-week physical activity challenge. After taking the challenge 55% of participants said they had more physical activity because of the challenge.
Walking school bus (one day per week for 8 weeks) participation was 23% students, 3% parents, and 1% staff. After the 8 week program, 50% reported they had more physical activity because of the program.
90% of 3rd – 5th grade teachers reported improved student focus in their classrooms since implementing physical activity changes.
50% more staff are participating in wellness activities since becoming a Showcase School.
100% of staff and students participated in new bi-monthly walks. More than 2,250 miles have been walked collectively!
200% increase in the number of events that send healthy messages or include physical activity in just this school year!

“HKC has achieved many things and its importance is obvious! It was an eye opening experience on how the little things can really add up to a lot. I like the module that talks about instead of doing something new, keep what exists and make it better.” CIGNA Showcase School, Prairie Point Elementary, Kansas City, MO, Andrea Best, Health Room Aide

Year 2

School-wide minutes of motion were added last year, but administration challenged the staff to add even more physical activity throughout the school day this year. Guidance and ideas from Healthy Kids Challenge, faculty meetings, and an on-site presentation helped staff meet the challenge this year. Here is a sampling of how movement was integrated throughout the school environment:

More movement to and from classes: students could be seen hopping to lunch, walking backwards to their classroom, or doing hand work on their way to computer lab.
More movement during class: every classroom teacher energized students with quick brain breaks
More movement as a reward for good behavior: an extra 20 -minute recess on Fridays for 192 students in 2 grade levels
More movement during special events: A Spirit assembly held all-school relays and a Holiday assembly challenged students and staff in snowman-building and reindeer races.

By the end of the year, the increased physical movement outside of P.E. resulted in 100% of the 24 classrooms having added brain breaks,

23 (96%) integrated activity into curriculum,

8 (33%) added minutes of recess, and

23 (96%) increased movement during recess.

That is approximately 20 minutes more physical activity for all 506 students weekly as compared to last year.

The total minutes added per student for the entire year: 720!

“The entire school – 506 students in 24 classrooms – doubled the minutes of motion compared to last year. Teachers love the Jammin’ Minutes I send out once a week with classroom ideas for brain breaks and more. Staff enjoy the interaction with the students and are seeing the benefits of it.”

CIGNA Showcase School, Prairie Point Elementary, Kansas City, MO, Andrea Best, Health Room Aide

Active Play, Balance My Day

2010-10-12T15:00:00.002-05:00

Increase physical movement through the day in every way. Healthy Kids Challenge recommends choosing things you LIKE to do for at least 60 minutes of active time most days. Here’s a favorite Healthy Kids Challenge Activity Idea:

Moving in the Right Direction

Description: Kids learn cardinal direction while in motion

Grade: K-2

No supplies

Directions:
The teacher will:

Have kids scatter throughout a large identified area..
Begin by having players review the four cardinal directions: North, South, East, and West.
Identify a cardinal direction and instruct kids to perform a motion while moving in that direction.

SUGGESTION: As kids become proficient with the 4 basic directions, add north and south westerly and easterly directions.

Action Option: This activity can be modified to use in the classroom using simple dance steps. Have kids practice dance steps, then add the direction to the music. Don’t hesitate to ask the music professionals to lend a hand! Examples: Grapevine West, Grapevine East, Cha-cha-North, Cha-cha-South.

For more activity ideas like the one above, check out free Healthy Kids Challenge resource materials on www.healthykidschallenge.com.

School Challenge Spotlight: Syracuse Elementary School

2010-10-05T15:12:00.004-05:00

What happens when you combine Healthy Kids Challenge expertise with a school that is ready to change? Small, simple changes over time culminate into policies and practices that support healthy actions.

The Healthy Kids Challenge School Challenge is excited to highlight Syracuse Elementary School in Syracuse, KS, for their ongoing forward progress in school wellness practices and policies. Over the past 5 years, the school district and local community along with Healthy Kids Challenge distance assistance have made strides in meeting the challenge for a healthier school environment:
· An active school wellness committee implements healthy eating and physical activity events
· Administration sees the value of, and provides ongoing support for, healthy change
· P.E. is maximized for movement 5 days a week and activity is integrated into classrooms
· Teamwork to develop and implement a district-wide snack policy
· Combined actions for physical activity and healthy eating exist across the curriculum
· Staff role model healthy changes and participate in wellness programs
· Parents and community are engaged in wellness actions through special events, parent-teacher conferences, and newsletters

The school district won student and parent support for the snack policy in an innovative way. School staff developed snack surveys during a summer break, which were given to every student in K-6th grades the first week of school. Then at “Back to School Night”, parents participated in a session on healthy eating, reviewed results of the students’ surveys, and sampled healthy snacks. At the end of the night, a plan was unveiled to students and parents on how to strengthen the school’s nutrition policies. Through student and family input, and support from HKC staff the school district successfully built awareness, appeal, and ownership for the coming change.

Taking survey results into consideration, the Board of Education adopted the following as part of the new policy:

“Special Lunch”, which used to be a soda and candy bar, was renamed “Snack and Chat” and features a healthy snack each quarter.
Reading Goal rewards are no longer candy and pop, but extra recess time or a new book.
Classroom Snacks allowable, and chosen by the students, include popcorn, fruit, and pretzels.

“We truly are all learning more about how to be healthy. We feel that promoting sound health practices, healthy eating and physical activity will create healthier children who will, in turn, be ready to learn,” said Barbara Harris, At-Risk Coordinator for the school.

As Pearl S. Buck said, “Solution is possible where acceptance is ready.” What solutions are working for your school?

4 Physical Activity Questions Answered...

2010-09-27T15:54:00.004-05:00

You asked and we found the answers! SPARK, Healthy Kids Challenge's Partner in Health for Physical Education and Activity, shared some of their expertise with us in a three-part blog series.

This month we're featuring answers to four physical education and activity questions we hear most from teachers.

1. Some kids are so competitive and into sports and others who aren’t so inclined often feel left out in recreational sport activities, but do enjoy participating. Suggestions?
Choose activities that are less sport oriented and use ones that ensure everyone is moving at the same time. If there are teams involved they should be small in numbers so all students have the opportunity to participate. Finding activities that focus on movement and not “athletic ability” helps all students feel comfortable participating.

2. What works for discipline instead of taking away recess time or the whole recess?
Focus on positive behaviors. By choosing to provide only consequences we are focusing on the negative behavior. Instead try increasing appropriate behavior and choosing content that encourages students to stay on task. Focusing on rewarding and encouraging positive behavior goes a long way in reaching the behavior you desire in your students.

3. I need ideas for brain breaks in the classroom, where do I go to get some?
There are a lot of websites that have great ideas and valuable information supporting the need for brain breaks in the classroom. Some websites include Action-Based Learning (abllab.com), Brain Gym (braingym.org), and North Carolina Physical Education is Active (ncpe4me.com).

4. Who makes the rules for the amount of PE time in school each week? Does it change as the kids get older?
The mandates are usually made at the state level with a minimum number of minutes per week required. It is up to individual districts and schools to enforce these requirements and they are able to increase the number of minutes required if they choose to do so. As students move from elementary school to middle school and high school, the number of required minutes increases. In many states, 150 minutes is required at the elementary level and 225 minutes is required at the secondary level.

Let us know what you think of these question and answers! If your school needs to develop a healthier environment, together, SPARK and HKC offer an “Ignite a Healthy Environment” Program (Click here for more info).

12 Tools for Healthy Schools

2010-09-21T15:47:00.002-05:00

Healthy Kids Challenge has over 10 years of experience providing wellness solutions for children. HKC’s Tools for Healthy Schools resources fit your needs at any level of involvement – from teachers and administrators to school foodservice, parents and even business and health care:

1. IGNITE wellness council workshop
2. Stirring Up Health National Middle School Recipe Contest
3. Healthy fundraiser
4. Healthy incentives
5. Childrens activity booklets
6. Downloadable family health tips
7. E-newsletter
8. E-challenge
9. Teacher training
10. Nutrition education curriculum
11. Wellness policies and action plans
12. Special events

For some other online tools for healthy schools, you might want to refer to School Resources, a document published in the journal, Childhood Obesity. It recommends one of Healthy Kids Challenge’s Partners In Health, Action for Healthy Kids, and the CDC Healthy Youth site, among others.

While I’m on the topic of healthy schools, and in honor of Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, I want to recommend that you read the following article from the Childhood Obesity journal: It Does, Indeed, Take a Village: Schools, Families, and Beyond for Weight Control in Children by David L. Katz, MD, MPH, FACPM, FACP.

Dr. Katz says, “School-based obesity prevention and control interventions…may well be necessary, but are almost certainly not sufficient in the absence of complementary programming in diverse community settings.”

Indeed, it takes a village.

Our first lady, Michelle Obama, has called on Congress to pass legislation that would make many of the Let’s Move initiatives possible. I think America is ready to take action – from me and you as individuals, all the way up to the highest level of government. And while we at Healthy Kids Challenge can provide tools for healthy schools along with many other credible organizations out there, let’s remember that everyone has a role in creating the healthy environments everywhere kids and families live, learn, work, and play.

Share your comments about any tools for healthy schools that you’ve used. Let’s grow this list and see how many others we can help!

It's Time For Healthy School Lunches

2010-09-14T15:41:00.003-05:00

Healthy school lunches are a major component of solving the childhood obesity issue. As with many potential solutions to the childhood obesity epidemic, it is up to all of us to work together – schools, organizations, parents, to name only a few – to produce healthy, yet tasty, school lunches for our children.

For schools, we know the U.S. Senate has passed a $4.5 billion bill, S. 3307 the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010, which requires healthier school meals and snacks. A great description of “what the bill will actually do”if Congress passes it can be found at planetgreen.com. The House bill, H.R. 5504 - Improving Nutrition for America's Children Act, has been described as improving meal quality, expanding access and filling nutritional gaps by the House Committee on Education and Labor. These are undeniably important pieces of legislation for our entire nation of children, but I have to say they are only a first step because Congress has not acted yet to pass anything into law. After that occurs, and I believe it will, it will be up to the USDA to decide the details such as what the National School Lunch program standards will look like from now on. I’ve already blogged about the outdated standards and just one simple solution we offer for school meal programs here: Solutions: School Meal Policies.

Some interesting healthy school lunch articles recently include:
1. School Nutrition: Healthier Ingredients, More Education For 2010-11
2. Fresh Fruits, Vegetables For 188 Illinois Schools
3. A Nibble Here, and a Nibble There
All this says that school lunch is a hot topic, and at the risk of repeating myself, it’s going to take all of us working together to get it right. So, let’s move away from the schools themselves for now and look at some organizations who are already taking action.

Of course I have to mention your very own Healthy Kids Challenge has resources, success stories, such as School Foodservice Makes a Healthy Impact, and can provide training to help make school lunches healthy. Others include the School Nutrition Association’s new website Tray Talk. It features school nutrition success stories, and they want you to sign up for updates on how Tray Talk works with parents and partners to provide the best possible school meals. Have I mentioned working together somewhere before? Now, give just 2 minutes and 11 seconds of your day for an absolutely inspiring Tray Talk video.

Remember that Let’s Move and the USDA have announced the Recipes for Healthy Kids Challenge. That’s right – read it again – It says Healthy Kids Challenge, but it’s a whole new challenge now for all of us to create recipes for healthy kids to be included in school lunches across the country. Healthy Kids Challenge proudly joins Let’s Move in taking the Challenge for school nutrition professionals, students, parents, and others to create recipes for healthy kids. In fact, if you have participated and/or won our National Middle School Recipe Contest, Stirring Up Health, we encourage you to submit your recipes to this new contest. The deadline for the Let's Move Recipes for Healthy Kids Challenge is December 30, 2010. The deadline for the Healthy Kids Challenge Stirring Up Health Recipe Contest is March 12, 2011.

Finally, parents, do you need some ideas for healthy school lunches? Here are 3 simple tips:
1. Include foods from at least 3 different food groups: Lean protein foods, whole-grains, and a fruit and/or vegetable.
2. Involve the kids. Involving kids in making lunch choices, and even preparation, increases the likelihood the lunch will be eaten.
3. Keep a list of simple meal ideas handy, such as the ones on Healthy Meals...Fast

Let's work together everybody. Let's Move!

Create A Culture of Health With Healthy Kids Challenge Now

2010-09-07T15:29:00.004-05:00

Children need a culture of health. Join HKC as we move to change the culture to one that is conducive to healthy nutrition choices and more physical movement. HKC supports Michelle Obama’s Let's Move campaign and its efforts that have already begun the shift toward a culture of health for our children.

I think recent nutrition and activity news headlines are indicative of the beginnings of this needed culture change. Here’s one that caught my eye last week, and the whole article is worth a moment of your time: “Behavior changes won’t work on their own without seismic societal shifts, health experts say, because eating too much and exercising too little are merely symptoms of a much larger malady.” -Fixing a World that Fosters Fat, by Natasha Singer, The New York Times. You should also check out the Hartman Group’s Wellness 2010: Balance Redefined market research report.

Here’s a handful of links I’ve found around the web in support a culture of health. I am posting the title exactly as it is worded on each of these web pages. It does not imply that Healthy Kids Challenge agrees or disagrees with any of them. I merely want to illustrate through headlines, the vast complexity of the issue of a cultural shift toward health.
Doctors Write 'Prescriptions' For Healthy Fruits and Vegetables
Taxing Caloric Sweetened Beverages to Curb Obesity
Baby Carrots Take On Junk Food With Hip Marketing Campaign
Eliminating Flavored Milk From Schools Shortsighted
Foodlink's Rochester Farm Stand Hopes to Change Inner-City Diets

If you’re interested in what I do wholeheartedly believe is working to help create a culture of health, check out our Best Practices section of our website. In the healthy nutrition for children area, for example:
Positive Attitudes for Fruits/Veggies At the end of the school year 90-95% of students were excited about receiving fruits/vegetables at snack times.
School Cafeteria Increases Fruit/Veggie Eating “Veggie Dippers” went from 100 to over 200 portions served.

In the physical activity area, here are a couple of examples as well:
Goal Setting Motivates Kids Each student increased on average 11,400 steps by setting a step goal: the equivalent of an additional 5 miles per student!
Integrating Physical Activity In the School Day Increased minutes of motion in 100% of classrooms by 30 minutes per week; a 30% increase over the previous year!

One thing I think is for sure, creating a culture of health is going to take all of us working together. At Healthy Kids Challenge we refer to a person who can help kids make healthy eating and physical activity choices a habit, a KidLink. All of us can become KidLinks in a culture of health! Do you see a culture of health forming where you live?

Healthy Breakfast GO Power Ideas for Children

2010-08-31T12:47:00.002-05:00

Do you and your children eat breakfast? Is it a healthy breakfast? Breakfast GO Power is one of our HKC Healthy6 practices.

The 5 “Powers” of healthy breakfast are:

1. feeling better

2. better concentration

3. better reaction times

4. higher energy levels

5. better test scores

Research keeps adding reasons why powering up with breakfast matters the rest of the day. A healthy breakfast – one that’s rich in whole grains, fiber, and protein and low in added sugar boosts children’s attention span, concentration, and memory – all important for success in school. Action for Healthy Kids has a downloadable tool Breakfast=Achievement that is great for sharing the benefits with others. Did you know that people who don’t eat breakfast often consume more calories throughout the day, making it more likely they’ll be overweight? September’s edition of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association reports children who consumed ready-to-eat cereal for breakfast were less likely to be obese. Breakfast matters, all day, every day.

Breakfast GO Power Ideas:

1. Whole-grain CEREAL with low fat MILK and a BANANA

2. TORTILLA with low fat CHEESE and APPLE slices

3. Whole wheat TOAST with scrambled EGG and STRAWBERRIES

Hungry for more healthy breakfast ideas? Try this download from the HKC-CIGNA Fit and Fun Families Toolkit or just ask in the comment section here!

Enjoy A Healthy Balance

2010-08-24T14:57:00.003-05:00

What does a healthy balance mean to you? You know it’s the core of our mission, to help people help kids eat, move, and enjoy a healthy balance. I think it means truly enjoying everything in moderation, but what do you think?

The Hartman Group’s new report has a great little table that compares our perceptions of balance today to 10 years ago. I really like their interpretation of the general trend to mean that people are now “emphasizing the more playful side of wellness”; and “less misery, more pleasure”.

How interesting…People view exercise as play and fun and eating right as pleasurable! My own conclusion is maybe they even believe wellness is about enjoying a healthy balance. Obviously something has changed in the past 10 years. Do you agree?

Of course I’d like to also believe that Healthy Kids Challenge has something to do with this general trend toward kids and families enjoying active play and healthy eating. After all, it is exactly what we strive to do every day. Like today for instance. We are helping kids enjoy a healthy balance in Charles City, Virginia through our School Challenge Distance Assistance Program. Let’s go back to the original question, though. What about you? I’m interested in knowing what a healthy balance means to you.

What works for getting people to buy-in to personal wellness?

2010-08-17T13:22:00.000-05:00

8 ways to get people to buy-in to personal wellness from our Facebook Fans. Thanks everybody who offered answers to my question! Have YOU tried any of these? What works best where you are, to get people interested in their own personal wellness?

1. Make healthy foods more affordable.

2. Be a wellness champion for elementary school students.

3. It makes you feel good to help others feel good.

4. Invite them to a fun event.

5. Invite them to eat.

6. Hold a “catch a teacher being healthy” contest.

7. Have a school garden.

8. Children encouraging and asking the adults in their life to join in.

www.healthykidschallenge.com

Fighting Adult Obesity Helps Fight Childhood Obesity

2010-08-09T15:58:00.003-05:00

You’ve probably seen those graphics of the U.S. with different shades of blue based on the percentage of overweight and obesity in each state. Want to see the newest one? It’s not blue anymore! Click here to go to the new CDC Vital Signs site. What color is your state?

Mine is orange. So what does that mean? Well this map represents the prevalence of ADULT obesity in the United States based on the most recent BRFFS data. It’s downright alarming if you ask me. I asked you about staring into the face of childhood obesity a couple of weeks ago. Specifically I asked if you recognize obesity in your own children or the children you lead every day. Now I’m asking YOU, the adult, the leader, the role model, to ask yourself this very same question. Yes, I’m serious.

Do you stare into the face of adult obesity every day?

Childhood obesity and adult obesity are linked. Just last week in the Lancet a study suggested pregnant women who gain too much weight may raise the child's obesity risk. Another study, highlighted by NPR’s Patti Neighmond, looked at what happens to people who’ve been overweight since they were teenagers. It suggests that adults who’ve been obese since childhood have not only negative health consequences, but significant social and economic consequences. Listen here. And I don’t need to cite a study to tell you it’s a fact that children pay very close attention to your actions, much more so than your words. We all should be more mindful of our behaviors and actions in all aspects of life because our children learn so much by just watching us.

If you’ve answered the first question, now consider this: The children in your life observe your eating and activity habits, however healthy or unhealthy they may be, every day. What are you doing to fight adult or childhood obesity today?

Less Salt May Be Too Hard to Swallow

2010-08-03T12:54:00.003-05:00

Most Americans are unable to limit consumption of sodium to 2,300 mg a day, so will an even more restrictive guideline be too challenging and discouraging?

The proposed new Dietary Guideline recommendation is 1500 mg sodium daily. With 9 out of 10 Americans consuming too much sodium already, the effectiveness of such a guideline isn’t realistic, unless there is education in tandem with that guideline. Oh, but there’s more. Such guidelines also need to consider the cost of reduced sodium products for those on limited budgets as well as nutrition concerns such as a probable increase in use of flavor enhancers such as MSG. This type of reaction has already been experienced with the preponderance of artificial sweeteners. Emphasis needs to be on education and understanding how to season foods with herbs, spices, and different cooking techniques that do not add additional sodium but enhance the food for maximum flavor and enjoyment. People have much more control over putting down the salt shaker and awakening new taste bud pleasures than trying to figure out sodium content in food products.

Whether it’s 1,500 mg, 2000 mg, or something in between, there’s no question that you and I can control

1) how much salt we add to our food

2) the amount of salt in foods we cook and bake, and

3) if we purchase packaged foods with salt added to them.

What’s your opinion? Is 1500 mg of sodium daily too challenging or discouraging?

http://www.healthykidschallenge.com/

Staring into the Face of Childood Obesity

2010-07-27T19:11:00.001-05:00

You stare at your kids every day. You admire them. You love them. You’d die for them. Would you fight obesity for them? We see it every day, everywhere we look. It’s unavoidable. And yet most of us don’t recognize it in our own children. At least that’s what one study of parents of preschool-age children shows us.

We all know it’s a problem, but it’s just not “our” problem. Our kids are healthy. Our kids might look a little “chubby”, but hey, they’re still growing. After all, they’re only 3 and 5 years old, they’ll grow into their bodies. Our kids look like we do; it’s just genetics. Unfortunately, it is our problem. It’s my problem, it’s your problem, it’s everyone’s problem. One of three preschool children is already overweight or obese, and even more are at risk of becoming that way. If you are the parent of young children or you teach or care for young children, most of you stare at childhood obesity every single day. Did you ever think about it that way? If so, what are you doing to fight childhood obesity where you are? I train teachers to add physical activity into what they’re doing in their classrooms and after school, for one. Have you ever been a part of a community-based intervention? One study says this type of intervention works better in children younger than 5 than it does for older kids and teens. We work with a lot of elementary schools nation-wide and I can tell your from experience, this kind of intervention is key for the kids because of the links to parents, community, businesses, etc. I’m curious though, if you really look at obesity in the kids you live with, work with, and play with every day. What does obesity look like to you? What are you doing to combat its effects?

How Do You Make a Healthy Community?

2010-07-20T15:39:00.004-05:00

It’s a loaded question, isn’t it? I think it depends on what healthy means to you.

You can look at it as an overall picture of having the right environment, or structurally speaking the best designs for making walking and biking easier. But I really believe a healthy community is made up of healthy people. You can’t make a healthy community without individuals who have a personal interest in their own health and well-being. Does it mean you eat only healthy foods, or do you enjoy an occasional treat? Does it mean you go to the gym seven days a week, or do you simply enjoy an active lifestyle? Maybe it’s a balance of food and movement for all ages.

Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign is making it clear that every one of us needs to be involved in solving the childhood obesity problem within a generation. Take a good hard look at yourself, your family, your community. After all, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) evidence shows adult obesity rates have increased in 28 states. In fact, 38 states have an obesity rate above 25%! One in four adults are obese in most states in our United States. RWJF hasn’t published new data on childhood obesity yet, but as adults we have to take personal responsibility for our own health and our children’s health, because it is truly an epidemic. Healthy Kids Challenge is meeting the obesity challenge head-on, including strategies in line with the Let’s Move campaign.

Did you know RWJF is launching an online forum about the best actions for reversing the childhood obesity epidemic? It would be a good idea for all of us to register and join the conversation. The president of RWJF says we have to make every community a healthy community and I wholeheartedly agree.

Walk Through the Pyramid and Ready, Set, Cook, and Eat in Chicago

2010-07-13T14:08:00.001-05:00

During Taste of Chicago at the Healthy Kids Challenge (HKC) Walk Through the Pyramid over 1,000 kids and families walked through MyPyramid food groups, talked to the dancing carrot, and got moo-ful tips from the milk group cow while learning more about healthy eating and physical activity! Del Monte Foods, a sponsor for both this year’s Healthy Kids Challenge Walk Through the Pyramid and Ready, Set, Cook and Eat events, helped bring edu-tainment at its best!

All day long, moms, dads, caregivers and youth group leaders engaged their kids in healthy eating and physical activity conversations. At every food group, participants saw and touched healthy food choices. In the physical activity area kids were spotted moving and grooving to the “slide”, hopping, jumping, and laughing! One dad led his whole physical activity pyramid section in chanting “You are awesome!”

Everyone walked away with a Del Monte beach ball and a bracelet reminder of how to balance healthy eating choices with physical activity. Parents left with quick, healthy Del Monte recipe ideas and experienced how easy and fun healthy living habits can become. Two parents were heard saying, “This is so clever!” and “This is great, hope to see you again next year”.

Also at the Taste of Chicago Family Village, the words “Ready – Set – Cook!” kicked off delicious ideas and healthy fun!

The event’s message was Breakfast GO Power. To begin the fun, three teams comprised of one adult and 3 kids chose names like “Delicious”, “The Hot Plates”, and “The Cooks”. Each team was given a “surprise” bag of groceries and asked to create an appealing healthy meal. While the teams were cooking, the audience participated in the edu-tainment, providing creative breakfast ideas of their own. As a reminder to balance healthy eating choices with physical activity, the audience won Del Monte beach balls.

The results were healthy fun for all and quick creative breakfast ideas like breakfast “appetizer trays”, burritos and a yummy morning sandwich. One of the team leaders,a youth group director, described the experience by saying “This was fun and good for the kids!”

Executive Director, Vickie L. James, RD, LD, summed up HKC’s second year to participate in the Taste of Chicago’s Family Village by saying, “We’re thrilled to have been a part of ‘America’s City Picnic’, showcasing affordable, simple steps for Chicagoans to create healthy lifestyles. Events like this further HKC’s efforts to meet First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move challenge for us all to be a solution to building healthy communities.”

Sarah Ludmer, RD, LD, Senior Nutritionist for Del Monte Foods said, “Del Monte is proud to be a part of such a unique event that brings family and health together. Our products make it easier for kids and parents to incorporate nutrition into their everyday lives.”

Smart Servings Challenge

2010-07-06T10:14:00.006-05:00

Challenge others to a scavenger hunt in search of Smart Servings“did you know?” information!

Check for information from one of the following credible sources:
1) Nutrition Facts labels on food packaging,
2) Visit with a registered dietitian, or
3) Family and consumer science extension information.
Share the findings in meeting, bulletin boards, and newsletters.
Here are a few to get you started:

Fast Food Fries.
Did you know...the difference between a small and medium size is about 150 calories and 2 tsp fat?

Peanut Butter.
Did you know...the 2 Tbsp serving on the label refers to level, not rounded Tbsp?
Tip: 1 ping pong ball is a good visual representation of a Smart Serving.

Movie Popcorn.
Did you know...3 cups of popcorn is a Smart Serving of whole grains? A large movie tub may hold 10 or more cups. A good percentage of the extra calories come from added fat.

Add your “Did You Know?” info to the blog comments below!

Drink Think

2010-06-24T13:38:00.006-05:00

Do you think about what you drink or do you drink before you think?

Drink think is important because water makes up at least 60% of your body – It’s an essential nutrient! Drinking water and other beverages throughout the day promotes adequate hydration and maintains peak mental and physical performance for all ages.

Aspire to these goals for Drink Think habits:

Choose water or low-fat milk rather than soft drink or high sugar, high fat beverages.

Choose 3 servings of milk each day.

Start your morning off with a glass of 100% fruit juice. 1 cup counts as 1 fruit serving.

What are your Drink Think habits now? Could you choose water instead of sugared drinks more often?

Healthy Breakfast Foods

2010-06-22T13:39:00.003-05:00

I’d like to continue our healthy food ideas with breakfast this week. Do you know you’ll burn more calories between 8 am and noon on the days you eat breakfast than on the days you don’t? That’s the magic of metabolism – that’s your Breakfast GO Power working! Do you also know that people who eat breakfast eat fewer total calories throughout the day than those who don’t? And best of all, breakfast eaters are more successful at school (or for adults, at work) than those who aren’t getting that daily dose of morning GO Power.

My #1 goal for Breakfast GO Power? Choose foods from at least 3 MyPyramid food groups, and do it every day. My favorites include:

Whole grain waffle with fruit and yogurt topping
English muffin with peanut butter and banana slices
Yogurt, fruit, and granola parfait
Breakfast burrito (made with peanut butter, applesauce, banana slices) and low-fat milk

Share your favorite healthy breakfast foods with me!

Vickie’s Healthy Snack Ideas

2010-06-15T14:31:00.006-05:00

You have an idea of what a healthy snack is, but you still have questions. While we were talking “Around the Water Cooler” with Jonathan Hall recently, I enjoyed helping you with some new ideas. In case you missed it, here are some of those in writing:

Fresh fruit with low-fat yogurt dip

Fresh vegetables with low-fat dressing

Whole grain crackers with low-fat cheese

Low-fat yogurt topped with wheat germ

Peanut butter on whole grain bread

Including little bits of protein in your healthy snack give you long-lasting fuel to go, Go, GO!

Remember you can find more ideas at MyPyramid.gov. If you have other questions about healthy snack ideas, please post in our comments or email me at vickie@healthykidschallenge.com.

Stirring Up Health Winners!

2010-06-07T10:30:00.001-05:00

Let’s give a shout out to all our recipe contest winners this week! This year’s Stirring Up Health™ National Middle School Recipe Contest was sponsored by Del Monte. In addition, educational partners Johnson & Wales University and Home Baking Association join us in congratulating the 5 winners on the delicious results. Each year we challenge middle schoolers nationwide to create healthy recipes or modify favorites to make them healthier. It’s never an easy task to choose the best 5, and this year was no exception! Check ‘em out!

Fruity Quinoa Salad by Matt
Healthy Breakfast Pita Pockets by Hannah
Fruity Snowballs by the Cupcake Girls: Christine, Alexandra, & Shannon
Spinach Spin-Wheels by Conrad
Healthy Kid’s Cocktail Cubes by Joshua & Micah

Be sure to test out the 10 Runners-Up as well – Their hard work deserves recognition!

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