Childhood Obesity As A National Security Threat
When First Lady Michelle Obama launched her Let’s Move program she described childhood obesity as a national security threat. “A recent study put the health care cost of obesity-related diseases at $147 billion a year,” Mrs. Obama said. “This epidemic also impacts the nation’s security, as obesity is now one of the most common disqualifiers for military service.”
The statement happened at a ceremony at the White House during the launching of the First Lady’s “Let’s Move” campaign which was attended by many officials of the President’s cabinet. And on December 2010, a few days before ushering the New Year, a new nutrition bill was signed into law by President Barack Obama to promote better eating habits among children.
Ways to Maintain Healthy Eating Habits for Couples with Children
Although couples are still able to maintain healthy eating habits after their first child arrives, they tend to falter on the routine after the birth of the second child. The presence of colorful cereals and other dairy products tend to dominate the household menus rather than munching on more vegetables and fruits. Somehow, this framework impacts children’s perspectives in terms of which foods are nutritious and which needs to be removed.
Here are some ways to get you and your family back on the right track:
Kids’ Healthy Eating May Open Doors to Healthy Careers
ProStart is a national, career-building program for high school students who are interested in culinary arts and restaurant and foodservice management. It offers a two-year career-building program where high school students study in the classroom, participate in mentored work experiences, and test their skills in local and national competitions.
In Maryland, the ProStart curriculum is taught to about 4,500 students in 92 schools. Nationwide, over 83,000 students in 47 states are involved in the program that focuses on front- and back-of-the-house restaurant operations.
“Basic home economics takes a look at food from inside a house,” said LeDeana Wentzel, director of workforce development at RAMEF. “ProStart looks at it from the outside and what you’d look at from a restaurant perspective.” That includes costs associated with individual servings, nutrition and presentation.
Childhood Obesity Sky Rocketing in America
It’s a no secret that childhood obesity has tripled in number in the last three decades, sending an alarming signal of epidemic in the nation. From 6.5 percent in 1980, the recorded case among children ages 6-11 soared to 19.6 percent in 2008, whereas, for those ages 12-19, the figure dived from 5 percent in 1980 to 18.1 percent in 2008. Such big leap prompted the nation to act in curbing the growth by adapting various measures that are primarily targeted at the younger generation.
Childhood obesity is a serious dilemma that needs serious attention; otherwise, we are looking at a bleak future for our children’s health and lifestyle. After all, a healthy lifestyle starts as early as childhood, and during such formative period, parents play a crucial role and influence by following a healthy lifestyle themselves.
Kids Healthier Eating Starts at Home
The advent of vending machines has greatly influenced children’s eating habit in the recent years. In some ways, vending machines have been stereotyped as the coolest invention to roll out loads of M&Ms, Skittles, Lays, Pringles, Doritos, and Coca-Cola products in only a matter of seconds with the help of some coins. Though vending machines are now trying to break that stigma by offering fresh healthy options, expecting kids to start eating healthier starts at home.
Jax Allebaugh, a proud mother of three— all studying in Grace Christian School—knows clearly that packing healthy lunches and snacks is a good way of ensuring kids are eating healthy in school, aside from making it as a requirement of the school for all its students. This combined effort of parents and schools makes children appreciate healthy food and allows them to enjoy fresh produces without feeling the urge of running to the nearest school vending machine. Grace Christian School gives specific guidelines to parents on what kind of healthy food to pack for their kids and to keep the campaign more fun they organize contest to see which class can bring healthiest snacks. Furthermore, the school encourages children and parents to go for more milk and water than juices, particularly those that have preservative contents.
Healthy Fast Food Push is On
Just how effective is it to change something that people have gotten used to? This question comes right in time after Wendy’s decided to push for healthier options in its menu. And that begins with their famous French fries. Right, Wendy’s is now serving their French fries with skin-on topped with sea salt. What’s more, these fries are cooked in special oil that contributes to the good health of its consumers.
The move happens as part of Wendy’s initiative in promoting for a higher quality, healthful, and natural ingredients in its menu. Currently, they are testing the fries in Florida, North Carolina and Louisiana. Likewise, they have also made a healthier version of their hamburger patties and chicken dishes which are also going through a series of testing in other parts of the country.
Obesity in America Needs to be Addressed
In America, obesity has already become an epidemic that puts the health of numerous American children at risk. Many of these children won’t live longer due to obesity-related diseases, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, circulatory disease, sleep apnea, arthritis and so many more. Family income as well as the government’s funds will be spent on obesity-related problems and even dreams will be shut out.
Just as childhood obesity begins at home, so does its prevention or reduction – it must start and be carried on within the four walls of the home. Even if the baby is still inside the mother’s womb, expectant mothers should diligently monitor their weight as this will likely affect the baby’s weight as well. In fact, recent studies have already implied that excessive, prenatal weight gain significantly raises the possibilities that the child in the mother’s womb will be struggling with obesity.
In the August issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a study focused on assessing the dietary patterns of early childhood. Based on the study, children, ages three to four who take in less greasy foods and more of the dark green and deep yellow vegetables were less likely to be overweight at age eight. All the more, this type of diet paved the way for the children’s healthier and stronger bones at age eight.
School Determined to Make Lunches and Vending Machines Healthy
Pop tarts, French fries, nachos are already out of the picture in school meals. This year, another school lunch is removed. Maplewoood Richmond Heights School District is the first to remove chicken nuggets from their school lunch menus.
“We’re not serving any chicken nuggets,” said a triumphant Carol Kon, the food service director for the Maplewood-Richmond Heights School District. “We’re the first to do that.” With a total of 1,150 students, this school district has intentionally dissuaded itself from offering unhealthy foods; thereby making themselves an envy of other school districts in the region.