Elmo Encourages Kids to Eat Veggies
The cute red character in Sesame Street has really gone a long way. From being an extra red puppet in the said show, Elmo, now became an infamous character reaching out to children to send important messages. He had been touring different shows either to give babysitting tips or help make eggnogs.
His testimonials before the US Congress urging support for increased funding in music education boosted his popularity all the more. He is the only non-human to ever testify before the House Appropriations Subcommitte on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education.
State to Ban Soft Drinks in Vending Machines
In an effort to help children make healthy food choices, the Florida Board of Education has carried out a plan to remove soft drinks and other sugary beverages out of school premises. Teachers are also required under the new policy to educate students about ways to stay fit and avoid leading a lifestyle that leads to childhood obesity.
Flavored milks, water, energy drinks, and carbonated sodas are among the many sugar-studded drinks that will be removed once the ban is implemented. Researchers, doctors, and school policy makers are working together to find a way to remove these completely out of school campuses. The move to remove unhealthy snacks and drinks out of schools has already been implemented in primary schools and many public and city-owned establishments across the country. Nutritionists believe that these kinds of drinks could be the highly contributing factor to worsening childhood obesity in the country. But this move did not come well among a number of parents stating that flavored milks is one way for them to make their children drink milk.
National Childhood Obesity Month
September 2010 marks the first ever National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month in the US. It was introduced by Senator Kirsten Gilibrand of New York in February 2010 and passed on March 26, 2010. This initiative was pushed primarily in response to the rapid increase in childhood obesity rate in the country. It was noted that in the past 4 decades, obesity rates soared high among all age groups, and increased more than four-fold among children ages 6-11. This epidemic put America’s children at an early risk for high blood, diabetes, heart disease and other ailments.
In his proclamation, Pres. Barrack Obama said that the nation is faced with obesity epidemic and stressed out the need for all Americans to unite and take action to combat this crisis. He added that there are lots of concrete ways to ensure the children live a full and active lived and urge everyone to take part in solving the problem. Fighting childhood obesity has been one of the major issues being addressed by Obama administration. Even First Lady Michelle Obama spearheaded a nationwide campaign “Let’s Move” by helping kids to be more active and get healthy. Studies show that obesity rate doubled from 1988 to 2006. Children ages 8-14 showed an obesity rate of 15.8% was noted at the end of 2006 as compared to 8.3% in 1994.
Healthy Vending Machines are a Great Business Opportunity
The U.S. economy may have fallen down due to recession. Some businesses have closed. Some investors are not laying down their investments out of fear that they may just be losing instead of earning.
But there’s one thing that you can do despite of how recession has affected the U.S. For investors who are willing to take the risk, they’ll be experiencing its many advantages such as a broad market appeal, year round business with lesser inventories and overhead, flexible hours, tax benefits, and most of all high profit margins. These make the vending business “immune” to recession.
Dishing up Healthy Vending in Schools
If one does a Google search using the following keywords: wife,mother,p.e enthusiast, caretaker of Portuguese water dog, organic gardener at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, school lunch trailblazer, childhood obesity, architect of ‘Let’s Move’ campaign , the Google answer will be the first lady Michelle Obama.
Michelle Obama is very resolute on changing the nation’s youngest citizens eating habits; from French-fry eating couch potatoes to organic vending minded, vegetable and healthy vending fruit loving active doers and clear thinkers. She wants to achieve this through the ‘Let’s Move’ campaign launched in February 2010.It is surprising that many schools are way ahead of her programs.
It’s Time for Healthy Snacks in Schools
Though Congress is still taking its time in finalizing, it looks like school lunches are becoming healthier. Last week the Senate using a voice vote gave the nod for a $4.5 Billion bill that will regulate new standards for all U.S public school lunches and vending machines. In July, a house committee passed a similar legislation. This situation is unique, where everyone is in agreement though there is opposition from the advocates for the hungry. They are not happy with the allocated money for future food stamping, being diverted for that purpose.
For many years Public health groups have advocated for stringent standards and now food and beverage companies have actually signed unto the cause. Michelle Obama’s pet project has been to reduce childhood obesity. Based on the figures from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), childhood obesity has risen in the past 30 years; from 6.5-19.6 % for ages 6 to 11 and from 5-18.1% for ages 12 to 19. These children will be exposed to possible heart disease, Type 2 Diabetes, stroke, cancer and arthritis at an early age.
Healthy Eating and Nutrition in Schools
Children have their hands full nowadays. This early, they are being taught to go green and at the same time eat healthy. But how? Will it be an easy task?
There are a lot of ways to nurture your child on the proper care for the environment and living healthy. It just takes a lot of time, effort and creativity to instill this on their young minds. The best example is the old cliché, walk the talk. If you want your children to follow, lead by example.
Childhood Obesity Being Challenged by Fresh and Healthy Vending Machines
As the fight against childhood obesity continues among Americans, “Healthy, Hunger-free Kids Act” was already submitted by the Senate. If signed into law, federal child nutrition programs including school lunch will be given an additional $4.5 billion funding over 10 years, a first time increase for the program in 30 years.
The Bill, a revamp of the 1966 Child Nutrition Act, is supported by First Lady Michelle Obama. It will allocate resources to elevate nutrition standards in school, encourage schools to buy produce from local farms, establish school gardens, introduce innovative ways for food sold in schools including in vending machines and eventually fight childhood obesity. A welcome treat for parents who worry on their children’s meal served in school.
The Michelle Obama Let’s Move! Program has brought many chefs into schools
Chef Tony Geraci, as a director of food and nutrition for Baltimore City Schools, brought 40,000 pounds of Maryland grown peaches for the kids. This was two years ago, when he sat with second graders, in the cafeteria, to watch them eat fresh peaches for the first time in their lives. He recalls that one kid was rubbing a peach along his face while the other was breathing into a peach. He said it’s supposed to feel and tastes like that.
In Baltimore, school meals have been changed by Chef Geraci, who is an owner of many successful restaurants as well as family owned restaurants. 88% of children in Baltimore eat free or reduced cost lunches. He serves fresh Maryland grown fruits and vegetables, purchases healthy foods from suppliers and on Mondays, he serves meatless dishes like black bean nachos, vegetable lasagna and eggplant parmesan.
Healthful Eating on Back to School Checklist
It is the time of year again when we will send off kids to school again. Are we parents ready? I mean not just with books, uniform, school supplies, school buses and waking up early. Aren’t you going to check on your kids available meals served in school? Well, you should be. Parents should be the first and foremost accountable for their children’s behaviors and attitudes about eating healthy. In this way, children will bringing in the “eat healthy attitude” even in school.
It is understandable that most parents do not prepare packed lunch due to busy schedules. Well all the more that we need to be hands-on when it comes to available food being sold at school’s cafeteria. It is easier said than done, right? It is a tough job indeed. Well, parents and the school officials should collaboratively enforce healthy eating habits. Its a re-education process not just for students but with adults as well