Childhood Obesity - Do you have an overweight child? We offer tips to help your child lose weight and get fit!

Helping kids establish healthy eating habits can prepare them for a lifetime of good habits, and help prevent the onset of things like obesity and diabetes.

Sugar contains "empty calories" -- it has no nutritious benefit whatsoever. Diets that include too many calories cause children to become overweight. Too much sugar can also cause tooth decay and diabetes.

Milk and fruit juices, though nutritious in many ways, contain high levels of sugar. Soda typically contains 10 teaspoons of sugar in an 8-ounce can ... So limit your children's consumption of beverages that have a high sugar content.

In addition, many health professionals suggest that parents talk to their kids about what they can and should eat, rather than emphasizing foods that are "off limits."

Source: KTVI-TV (St. Louis)

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In a Sept. 2 Los Angeles Times article, Lorenza Muñoz bemoaned the sad state of nutrition among American children -- but the food writer noted that a number of efforts are underway to improve the eating habits and food IQ among the nation's youth:

Due in part to an alarming increase in childhood obesity, diabetes and other junk-food-related illnesses, healthful-food movements targeting kids are sprouting all over the United States. From kids' cooking classes to angry mothers demanding more healthful food in cafeterias to edible gardens at schools, more people are looking to improve their families' eating habits.

"The whole food system in our country is broken," says Susan Rubin, a former dentist, now nutritionist in New York, who founded Better School Food, a nonprofit program to help parents improve their kids' school food programs. "Somehow we have gotten the idea that healthy food is not good."

Countering the culture of junk and processed foods takes parental effort and a little creativity. Cynthia Walters of Powell, Ohio, takes her three children on "scavenger hunts" at the local supermarket. Every week, they try to pick out an unfamiliar fruit or vegetable. A few weeks ago, her 11-year-old son spotted an unattractive, brownish-gray vegetable and showed it to his siblings as if he had discovered something truly unique.

Labels: nutrition, healthy_eating, prevention

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A family, school and community intervention program in Iowa has help children live healthier lives, according to a study by researchers at Iowa State University.

The following details about the study and its results were featured in a Sept. 22 article on the ISU website:

• Children who participated in The Switch program watched an average of two fewer hours of television and also consumed two more servings of fruits and vegetables per week than those who weren't in the program.
• Program participants also walked 300 more steps per day.
• The studys successes were modest, which is to be expected, as most people make gradual lifestyle changes.
  
• A six-month follow-up of kids who participated in the program found even stronger results, an indication that the program was helping to create healthy, long-term habits.

The Switch program was developed by the Minneapolis-based National Institute on Media and the Family (NIMF). The program uses community advertising, school-based curriculum, and family-based information packets to encourage children towards more active and healthy lifestyles.

Labels: healthy_eating, healthy_living

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More than 350 Texas schools will be awarded more than $11 million worth of new kitchen equipment as part of the federal stimulus package. According to the North Texas News, the new equipment will go toward replacing components such as deep-fat fryers.:

The kitchen equipment purchased with these funds will allow schools to provide more nutritious meals to Texas school children and also help in the fight against childhood obesity, Commissioner [Todd] Staples said. "I am very proud of the accomplishments of our Texas schools as they take another step toward encouraging the 3 Es of Health Living: Education, Exercise, and Eating Right."

When the Texas Department of Agriculture announced that stimulus funds were available, it received requests from more than 3,000 schools. Though all the requests couldn't be met, 939 pieces of kitchen equipment will be provided, including ovens, freezers, steam tables, and food processors.

Labels: healthy_eating, schools, cafeterias

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A new study from New Zealand indicates that feeding children certain foods may make them smarter.

Reremoana Theodore of the University of Otago studied the diets, family lifestyle, and IQs of 600 children for her PhD thesis. She found a link between having a higher IQ and eating fish once a week, and bread and cereals four times a day.

Eating margarine, she discovered, was linked to lower IQs.

Theodore's thesis has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Labels: healthy_eating, intelligence, fish

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A study that was conducted at the University of Calgary suggests that the foods we eat as babies and toddlers may influence whether we become fat as adults.

Dr. Raylene Reimer put rats who had been newly weaned from their mothers on one of three diets: high fiber, high protein, or a control diet.

• When the rats became adults, Dr. Reimer fed them all high fat, high sugar diets.
• The ones who had eaten the high protein diet gained the most weight the most rapidly.
• The ones on the high fiber diet put on the least amount of weight.

"The composition of early childhood diet may have a direct impact on genes that control metabolism and obesity risk," Dr. Reimer wrote in her report, which was published in the Journal of Physiology. "The study clearly indicates that diet composition alone can change the trajectory of circulating satiety hormones and metabolic pathways that influence how we gain weight or control blood sugar as adults."

Labels: toddlers, healthy_eating, babies

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With childhood obesity reaching epidemic status, many parents worry about how best to teach their kids healthy eating habits. Nutritionist and counselor Elly Stattler thinks that parents who are providing healthy options for their children don't need to worry quite so much:

"She encourages parents to trust their children. Stattler suggests parents decide when the child eats and provide healthy choices. The child decides if he/she wants to eat and how much to eat."

Letting the child make decisions early helps them develop good habits as they grow older. Parents still provide the overall guidance, but the children learn how to choose wisely. Source: Grosse Pointe (MI) News

Labels: healthy_eating, eating-habits, role_models

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Parents believe that their preschoolers eat more nutritious diets and exercise more often than school-age children do, but according to a study from the University of Tennessee, both groups behave about the same.

Dr. Hollie Raynor asked parents of 174 children ages two to 12 about their diet and leisure activities. Parents of preschoolers ages two to five reported that their children watched less television, exercised more, and ate more nutritious foods than parents of children ages six to 12 did. However, when the researchers kept track of what the children were actually doing and eating, there was little difference between the two groups.

Children with healthy weight levels watched fewer hours of television than did children who were overweight or who were at risk for developing weight problems.

This study appeared in the Journal of Nutrition.

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The Scots, Irish, Welsh, and Brits are turning to a team of superheroes to fight childhood obesity.

The four "Food Dudes," celebrated in DVDs and school materials, gain their super powers by eating fruits and vegetables. These nutritious foods enable them to save the Life Force and fight the evil Junk Punks. The Punks want to deprive the world of energy by stealing all its fruits and vegetables.

"Something serious had to be done," said Professor Fergus Lowe, one of the creators of Food Dudes. "Diets in Great Britain are terrible, and childhood obesity is absolutely skyrocketing."

Dr. Lowe said his research indicates that children need to taste a new food 10 to 15 times before they learn to like it. The Food Dude program rewards children who eat fruits and vegetables with stickers and other prizes. Parents receive a home-pack with logs to monitor their child's eating as well as informational materials.

Dr. Lowe said the Food Dude program is a way to counteract all the junk food advertising aimed at children. Over 3,300 Irish schools are using Food Dudes, and it is being introduced in Wales and Scotland.

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A Harvard Medical School study linked the consumption of above-average amounts of red meat during adolescence with an increased likelihood of developing breast cancer as an adult.

Dr. Linda Frazier and her colleagues examined reports of food consumption from 38,268 pre-menopausal women who reported how often they had eaten red meat - including beef, pork, lamb, and processed meats such as hot dogs or bacon - when they were adolescents.

Women who reported eating more than two and a half servings per day (262 grams or more) had a 34 percent greater chance of developing breast cancer than did those who ate less than one serving. The kind of red meat did not matter. The average consumption was 68 grams per day.

"This study adds considerable evidence to the established adverse effect of red meat," Dr. Frazier said.

The work appears in the journal Cancer Epidemiology.

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The value of eating fruits and vegetables has been touted for generations. But new scientific research is finding that fruits and vegetables are more than just an excellent source of vitamins.

"We've moved beyond seeing fruits and vegetables as rich sources of essential vitamins and now are beginning to understand the roles and complexity of compounds such as antioxidants and the literally hundreds of phytochemicals that interact to influence health and nutrition."

Antioxidants protect the body against "free radicals," harmful molecules that are linked to higher rates of cancer, heart disease, and other illnesses. Source: Enid News & Eagle (OK)

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Louisa May Alcott Elementary School lunches won't feature the typical school cafeteria fare this year. Instead of processed foods such as hamburgers, chicken nuggets and pizza, students will be enjoying organic foods made from scratch with locally produced ingredients.

"[Chef Greg] Christian started the OSP [Organic School Project] in response to his own daughter's health problems, hoping to bring awareness to childhood obesity, early onset type II diabetes, and behavioral problems. He believes that if children reconnect with their food source they'll be more willing to try healthier foods."

Children at the school will also help create and sustain a fruit and vegetable garden, and will learn the benefits of composting and recycling. The program, which is scheduled to run for the 2008-2009 school year, will be the first of its kind to also study the effects of more holistic approaches to obesity prevention. Source: ConsciousChoice.com

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A new web-based kids program is taking parents out of the kitchen and teaching young kids how to cook healthy meals for themselves. The show is hosted by children, and was created by JAG Entertainment in Universal City, CA.

"Jr. Chefs of America plans to educate and present an innovative substitute to the fast food nation that is largely responsible for the rising [obesity] epidemic... Each episode promises to teach kids how to properly and safely prepare quick and delicious recipes..."

The show was inspired by Michael Green, whose son has been helping him in the kitchen since he was five years old. Source: JAG Entertainment

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An eight-year study of 26,000 Greek citizens found that eating a "Mediterranean" diet reduces cancer risks by 22 percent. This diet such includes the following habits: consuming less red meat and dairy products, using olive oil instead of butter, and eating more fruits and vegetables. The researchers found that individuals who followed this plan had lowered rates for several types of cancer, including cervix, bowel, stomach, liver, and brain.

"Of the thousands of people we studied, those who followed a Mediterranean diet were overall less likely to develop cancer," said Harvard University professor Dimitrios Trichopoulos.

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An increase in childhood obesity rates and a decline in healthful eating options have prompted a Los Angeles city official to propose a moratorium on new fast food restaurants in the city.

"The proposed ordinance, which takes a page from boutique communities that turn up their noses at franchises, is supported by nutritionists, frustrated residents and community activists who call restrictive zoning an appropriate response..."

Many experts have cited large discrepancies in the types of restaurants available in different parts of town as evidence that such a proposal is needed. Source: The Washington Post

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Many parents point at school lunch and snack programs as primary culprits in rising rates of childhood obesity. But new research has found that those people may be pointing in the wrong direction.

"Data from kindergarteners and first graders found that body mass index increased two to three times as fast in summer as during the regular school year. Minority children were especially vulnerable, as were children already overweight."

Though this data doesn't absolve schools of all responsibility, it does indicate that nutritional standards often take a summer break. The research also emphasizes that healthy eating is important all year long. Source: The Providence Journal

Labels: healthy_eating, summers, vacations

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France has recently begun doing what the United States, it seems, can only talk and dream about: curb childhood obesity. The introduction of healthy school lunch programs has taught French children how to eat well, and isn't costing school districts a fortune.

"All around the school kitchen, food is cooking in various pots and pans.... It is hard to believe this is a public school cafeteria and not a three-star restaurant. Perhaps what is most impressive about [Chef Dominique] Valadier's meals is that they cost the students only $3 a day, less than the typical fast food fare served at many French high schools."

Valadier keeps food costs down by buying local and using everything; he even boils the heads, flesh and bones from salmon to make bullion. Students at the school say they've nearly stopped eating at fast food restaurants and have learned some important lessons about healthy cooking and eating. Source: NPR

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Teaching children how to cook at an early age has many benefits, not the least of which is the ability of nutrition education to assist in the battle against obesity. The Kitchen Kapers studio in Moorestown, Pennsylvania has begun putting this theory into practice.

"Though nutrition can be stealthily baked into chocolate cake in the form of a beet puree, as Jessica Seinfeld has demonstrated with her Deceptively Delicious recipes, these instructors reason that children stand a better chance of developing healthier habits when they can recognize a beet, and, better yet, learn how to roast and peel it."

Cooking classes can also teach portion control, as well as introduce young eaters to new foods. As an added benefit, instructors believe that families that cook together are more likely to develop a habit of eating together - and, in addition to reinforcing positive nutrition concepts, shared meals have also been shown to promote emotional well-being. Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

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The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has created a program designed to help connect local farmers with the area's school food service directors. connect and. This "Farm-to-School" effort to get more local fruits and vegetables into public schools is the result of an initiative by the 2007 Virginia General Assembly.

"The Farm-to-School program is about creating connections between growers, distributors and educational institutions,' said Todd P. Haymore, VDACS Commissioner. 'Through these connections, we also can reach children and their parents,' he added."

The program's web site helps food service directors learn what food is available and where it can be purchased. Both the program and the website are administered by VDACS' Division of Marketing. Source: Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

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Susannah Locketti is a working mother of two who is often sought out by other moms for nutrition advice. How, they want to know, can they make sure their kids eat healthy when life is so hectic that fast foods and pre-packaged meals seem to be the only options.

"Phase one of the plan consists of switching out every white flour product in the house with a whole grain alternative... I remember the first day my kids ate 'brown bread', as they called it. It was 100 percent whole wheat and they refused it for three days... They eventually caved and whole wheat bread is a staple in my school lunches."

Parents can also switch to whole grain cereals, and replace chips and cookies with yogurt and string cheese. Source: The Kingston Observer

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Over 30% of American teens use energy drinks, according to a study by the American College of Sports Medicine.

Energy drinks contain high levels of caffeine. A typical drink is between 12 and 16 ounces, with 50 to 145 milligrams of caffeine in every eight ounces. A cup of coffee has 100 milligrams and a regular cola has 35 milligrams per eight ounces. Some high schools have already banned the sale of energy drinks in their cafeterias and vending machines. Popular brands are Spike, Wired, Freek, Buzz, and Red Bull.

Worried your teen isn't getting proper nutrition? Learn more about healthy eating at WeightLossCentral.org.

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As concerns over childhood obesity continue to build, parents and caregivers have the unenviable responsibility of helping children learn how to make healthy choices about their food and level of physical activity. A contributing writer at About.com offered ten tips for getting kids to eat good food.

"1. Prepare healthy meals together. Engaging children in the preparation of kid-friendly healthy dishes is so fun and so very messy, but children are more likely to eat something that they've helped to prepare."

Other tips included: Take Children Grocery Shopping, Plan a Family Taste Test, and Show Kids How to Grow Food. Habits developed during childhood often stay with a person throughout his or her life, so setting a healthy example is important. Source: About.com

Learn more about healthy eating and exercise at Weight Loss Central.

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With childhood obesity becoming more and more of an issue, parents are eager to keep their kids healthy and help them lose weight. But the well-meaning words and actions of parents can backfire, causing kids to resort to disordered eating in order to lose weight. A group of teens recently talked with U.S. News and World Report about the things they wished their parents had never said.

"Maybe this new diet will help. 'I'm always hearing about how bad food is; they showed Super Size Me, [a documentary about the dangers of fast food] in school,' says [Leah] Schumacher. 'I would have like to have learned from my parents or teachers about the positives of food, like why I need some fat to build cells and what fruits and vegetables do for my body.'"

All of the girls interviewed were undergoing treatment for eating disorders which they feel they developed, in part, because of comments from parents and friends. Source: U.S. News and World Report

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Now that low-carb diets are decreasing in popularity, people are beginning to rediscover the many benefits of pasta. Once touted as something to be avoided, the right kind of pasta is an excellent addition to a healthy nutrition plan.

"On the plus side, pasta supplies a sustained energy release thanks to its low glycemic index. Foods with a low GI are broken down slowly in the body and release their carbohydrate (glucose) gradually into the bloodstream. As a result, they can help you feel full longer."

Whole-grain pasta also helps you consume more minerals, phytochemicals, and fiber. It's now possible to find pasta that has been fortified with Omega-3 fatty acids, which are believed to help prevent heart attacks. Read more at TheGlobeandMail.com.

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Eating breakfast may help teens stay slim, according to a new study from the University of Minnesota.

Researchers surveyed 2,216 students in middle school and high school in 1998, and again five years later. Teens that did not eat breakfast were five pounds heavier, exercised less, and made more unhealthy food choices throughout the day than those who ate breakfast regularly. More boys than girls skipped breakfast - 19 percent compared to 14 percent.

This study appears in the journal Pediatrics.

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Researcher Phoenix Gilman refers to low-fat diets as "myths". She cites not only the benefits of eating healthy fats like fresh cheese and eggs, but also the fact that healthy fats don't trigger insulin - which has to be present in order for the body to store fat.

"Though the low-fat diet has clearly not worked, the fear of eating healthy fat still runs rampant... However, those who follow Gilman's research are proving where the truth really lies. Her clients are losing weight - and keeping it off; reversing their type 2 diabetes; improving thyroid function... and achieving healthier cholesterol panels..."

Gilman goes on to say that low-fat diets often include too many carbs and too much sugar. Yogurt, low-fat milk, and even some fruits contain only 'simple carbs' - the same kind of sugar that's found in most candy bars and triggers insulin production. Read more at SnackandBakery.com.

Want to learn more about diets and weight loss programs? Visit the Weight Loss Help Directory for resources and information on how to lose weight and get healthy.

Labels: diet, healthy_eating, fats

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Between 2003 and 2007, the state of North Carolina lost more than $10 million in its child-nutrition programs, going from a $5.6 million profit to a $5.7 million loss. Officials say the loss was primarily caused by increased costs associated with introducing healthier foods into school meal programs.

"Schools began offering healthier a la carte items in cafeterias, but those items cost more, Hoggard said. For example, the cost of 240 regular cookies is about $41, but the cost of 240 reduced-fat, whole-grain cookies is about $55. And those healthier items don't sell as well..."

Lynn Hoggard, section chief for child nutrition in North Carolina, estimates that it could cost between $15 million and $20 million to implement the necessary nutrition changes. Read more at StarNewsOnline.com.

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For the third year in a row, The Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI) will launch a Kids in the Kitchen initiative designed to help fight childhood obesity. The initiative will begin in March, in conjunction with National Nutritional Month.

"More than 230 Junior Leagues participate in this grassroots initiative to empower children to adopt healthy lifestyles. Organized in 2006, Kids in the Kitchen responds to the staggering statistic that nearly one-third of children and adolescents in North and South America will be overweight by 2010... "

Cartoon Network plans to support the program will public service announcements, event-activation kits and an online animated educational game. Read more at MediLexicon.com.

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As part of its continuing efforts to battle childhood obesity, London district schools will add classes aimed at teaching students how to cook healthy meals.

"From 2011, every 11 to 14-year-old will be given hands-on cooking lesson in how to make cheap, healthy dishes from simple, fresh ingredients... Under the plans, around 800 new food technology teachers and teaching assistants will be trained over the next three years."

The government plans to set aside nearly $5 million to cover the program. Read more at ThisIsLocalLondon.com.

Looking for a fitness Summer Camp to help your overweight child shed some pounds this summer? Visit WellspringCamps.com to find a program near you.

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"Mindless eating" is a phrase used to describe the idle snacking that many people do throughout the day. It is also the title of a book by Cornell professor Brian Wansink that explains the psychological cues behind mindless eating and offers suggestions for combating those cues.

"Hide the cookies; uncover the carrots. You eat what you see. If you have to look at soda every time you open your refrigerator, you will spend more time thinking about soda and, ultimately, will drink more of it. So keep the sweets tucked away, and move your carrots and celery from the vegetable crisper to the top shelf of the fridge, where they will be at eye level."

Other suggestions include making healthy snacks easier to eat by, for example, washing and cutting carrots and celery. The stomach isn't sensitive enough to register in "real time" what's been eaten, so using the other senses is important. Put food on smaller plates so that it looks like you're eating more. And put sweets or other unhealthy snack food in places where they can't be easily seen.

Labels: healthy_eating, snacks, grazing

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A new book has just been released by Barbara Storper. Janey Junkfood's Fresh Adventure! is a children's book designed to make healthy eating fun for kids.

"...the book is designed like a colorful scrapbook, filled with Tobe's discoveries as she investigates the case against junk food and comes up with fun and helpful ways to help her friend eat to win."

The book also includes "14 tickets to fresh adventures" recipe cards for nutritious snacks.

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A new study from the University of Florida has found that cutting fructose may do more for weight-management and weight-loss than cutting carbs. The findings were recently published in the European Journal of Nutrition.

"Many diets - including the low-carb variety - are based on the glycemic index, which measures how foods affect blood glucose levels. Because starches convert to glucose in the body, these diets tend to limit foods such as rice and potatoes. While table sugar is composed of both glucose and fructose, fructose seems to be the more dangerous part of the equation, UF researchers say. Eating too much fructose causes uric acid levels to spike, which can block the ability of insulin to regulate how the body cells use and store sugar and other nutrients for energy, leading to obesity, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes..."

Though fructose isn't the only culprit in the current obesity epidemic, it may play a more important role that previously believed. Researchers warn, however, that junk food, high-fat food and a sedentary lifestyle are important factors as well.

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The Utah school board has voted 11 to four to keep control of policies that determine what is sold in school vending machines. The board voted down what would have banned, state-wide, the sale of pop and candy in school vending machines.

"So school districts now just have to come up with policies on vending machine and other fare that doesn't come through the school lunch program, and submit them to the state school board in January 2009."

State board members acknowledge that childhood obesity is a serious issue, but believe that local school districts need to take matters into their own hands, rather than relying on state-controlled legislations.

Looking for a boarding school in Utah? Visit BoardingSchoolsInfo.com for a compete list of boarding junior and high schools in Utah.

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On average, Americans prepare home-cooked meals just two to three times per week. The rest of the time it's drive-thrus and take-outs. We have our reasons; "it doesn't cost that much more," "it saves me time," etc. But the truth is that eating out not only costs money, but can cost us - to some degree - our health.

"So if you don't gain time or save money by grabbing takeout, what benefits do you get from cooking at home? 'You'll eat better, cheaper and fresher at home,' [Meredith] Deeds said. 'You control portion sizes, and the content and quality you're providing your family,' said [Niquenya] Fulbright. She said these issues can be especially important in an era of rising childhood obesity."

Cooking at home also teaches children how to prepare and enjoy healthier meals, and gives the family some important quality time together.

Read more at JournalStar.com.

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As concern over childhood obesity increases, more and more parents are choosing sit-down restaurants over their high-fat laden counter-parts; fast-food. But one look at a restaurant's kids menu and you realize that many sit-down restaurants offer the same unhealthy options. But there are ways to eat out and still ensure that your child's meal is healthy.

"One way to foster good eating is to ask for substitutions with the kids' meal, and say no to the 'bottomless soft-drinks' Christian said. Better yet, forgo the kids' menu and share your healthier adult meal with your child, she said."

Helping kids develop a taste for healthy foods now means they'll be more likely to make healthy food choices in their adult years.

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The Health Commissioner of the European Union launched the "European Day of Healthy Food and Cooking", as a way to promote healthy eating and living amongst children. Fourteen member states are participating in the Day, sponsoring activities that range from cooking demonstrations by top chefs to workshops promoting a healthy lifestyle.

"Commissioner Kyprianou said 'Good habits practiced from an early age are more likely to continue into adulthood. Through this partnership with Euro-Toques, the Commission aims to promote the importance of healthy eating to children in a fun and interactive way. Encouraging children to enjoy healthy eating and physical exercise is the best investment that we can make for their future."

One of the events was an interactive cooking lesson hosted by four professional chefs in Brussels, who talked with 60 children about the benefits of eating well.

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Three American universities conducted studies on the eating habits of youngsters. They found that kids whose families eat together regularly were healthier.

"Children who regularly have meals with their parents, according to a recent article in the New York Times about the research, 'eat more fruits, vegetables and calcium-rich foods, ingest more vitamins and nutrients, and consume less junk food.'"

Though it's tough to make time for family meals, it's worth the effort.

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A federal pilot program that's been running in 14 states may be expanded across the country when the nation sets its agricultural policy for the next five years. The program makes fruits and vegetables more readily available in school lunch programs and is being heavily lobbied for by the United Fresh Produce Association.

"'Kids eat way less than half of the total fruit and vegetables they need to eat for good health,' said Lorelai DiSogra, a nutritionist at United Fresh Produce Association, which represents fruit and vegetable growers. 'If you can make fresh fruits and vegetables available, kids are going to eat it.'"

A program expansion would make as much as $225 million available, making it easier to expand the program beyond its current pilot stage.

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Parents who find themselves at a loss for ways of helping their overweight children become healthier can rest easy. The results of a new study show that just two simple changes can help; increased physical activity by 2,000 steps per day (equals approximately one mile), and elimination of just 100 calories from the daily diet.

"This family-based study showed that, over six months, 67 percent of overweight children... maintained or reduced their percent BMI-for-age..."

Conducted by the University of Colorado at Denver, the study shows that managing a child's weight and overall health is easier than most parents think.

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Some Long Island school districts, in an effort to combat childhood obesity, have banned cupcakes and other sugary foods in the classrooms. At least eight school districts will no longer allow unhealthy treats at classroom birthday celebrations.

"The strict diet rules could also affect such school traditions as bake sales and teachers handing out candy as classroom rewards. In place of cupcakes, school districts are considering healthier foods and games to celebrate birthdays."

Some parents, however, feel the step is too extreme and are calling the move "Big Brother paternalism".

Mount Bachelor Academy private high school offers the Lifestep Curriculum to help teens find their path in life.

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For years, family physicians have warned parents against giving their kids too much fruit juice because it was linked to obesity. But a recent study has found that 100 percent fruit juice with no sugar added does not contribute at all to childhood obesity.

"Other studies, meanwhile, have found that many fruit juices provide powerful health benefits, [Pamela] Rockwell notes. Research in recent years has identified ways that beverages such as pomegranate, orange and cranberry juices can help to prevent or cure diseases."

Parents still need to be careful what they give their children. Most fruit juice drinks are not 100 percent natural, and many have high concentrations of corn syrup, which is connected to many health issues.

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Vending machines are as common in schools as notebooks and gymnasiums. But the food offered in vending machines is often equally high in both calories and fat grams. Now, Solana Beach-based natural food company YoNaturals Inc. has offered free vending machines and installation to local schools.

"The company's biggest target is public schools. The company hopes to clear out unhealthy snacks on campuses and contribute to the fight against childhood obesity and early-onset diabetes."

The vending machines will contain natural and organic food and snacks ranging in price from 75 cents to two dollars.

Read more at SDBJ.com.

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Recent studies have found that diet foods and diet drinks may actually increase a child's risk of becoming overweight or obese, as may a parent's efforts to "push" healthy foods. The unfortunate result of these types of weight-control tactics is that children lose the ability to regulate their own eating.

"What seems to happen when children are exposed to this sort of parental behavior, says Goyder, is that internal hunger cues become confused. Pressure to eat certain foods and to avoid others leads to 'uninhibited eating and weight gain, particularly among girls' as they eventually fail to recognize satiety."

Instead, experts suggest that parents lead by example, eating healthy food in reasonable quantities and enjoying desserts (also in moderation). Read more at TimesOnline.co.uk.

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Labels: parenting, healthy_eating, influences

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As the United States faces an ever-increasing waist line, some doctors and nutritionist are concerned that parents' attempts to keep their kids "healthy" will actually cause a backlash of poor choices, low self-esteem, and possibly eating disorders.

"No one would deny that being overweight poses risks to physical and emotional health or that an increasing number of American youth are facing those risks. What's troubling to some are the overt approaches to helping these kids - the focus on 'red light' foods, the after-school nutrition classes, the forced gym memberships, the public tsk-tsking."

Instead, doctors and nutritionist recommend that parents simply make sure they're preparing healthy meals and have healthy snacks in the house. Teach kids how to eat what they need without overeating, and allow them to sample a wide variety of foods. Read more at Coloradoan.com.

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Labels: healthy_eating, self_esteem, eating_disorders

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The MEND program is designed to teach kids and their parents how to battle the eating and exercise habits that cause childhood obesity. MEND stands for Mind, Exercise, Nutrition...Do it!

"During the first hour [of the program] they look at healthy eating and during the second hour the children take part in physical activities while their parents continue with classroom based tasks."

This past weekend, eight children graduated from the program in Tower Hamlets.

Read more at 24dash.com.

Labels: healthy_eating, education, exercise

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Dole Food Company, Inc has become the first (and so far the only) produce company to sign the Memorandum of Understanding created by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. The Memorandum sets forth industry guidelines on foods that are sold in schools.

"The Dole Nutrition Institute will collaborate with the Alliance on school demonstration projects that promote student acceptability of fruits and vegetables, provide food service staff with training on preparing and serving healthier food items, and communicate recommended nutritional practices within the educational setting and to parents."

Dole will also partner with the Alliance in identifying schools in which fruits and vegetables need to be made more readily available. Read more at Home.Businesswre.com.

Labels: nutrition, healthy_eating, schools

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The California legislature has passed two bills that take effect this Sunday and are intended to impose tougher nutrition standards in public schools. One of the bills implements stricter nutrition standards for food; the other does the same for beverages.

"The school nutrition bills grew out of former Sen. Martha Escutia's struggles with gestational diabetes when she had her second child eight years ago. Her research on diabetes and its links to obesity led to a 6-and-a-half-year campaign against school junk food."

The standards for food limit the amount of salt, saturated fat, sugar and calories a snack food can contain; while the beverage bill requires than at least half the drinks sold at schools are healthy and something other than soda.

Read more at MohaveDailyNews.com.

Labels: nutrition, healthy_eating, schools

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Amid pressure to provide healthier products, and the country's growing problem with childhood obesity, Kellogg announced that week that it will be modifying products like Pop Tarts and Fruit Loops to make them healthier. If the products can't be re-made while maintaining their flavor, the company has vowed to stop marketing them to children under 12-years-old.

"The company already has a policy under which it does not advertise to children under the age of 6. As part of its new commitments, Kellogg won't market to children any food that has more than 200 calories, 2 grams of saturated fat, 230 milligrams of sodium, 12 grams of sugar, or any trans fat, per single serving. This means that Kellogg products that don't meet these criteria can't be advertised on television, radio, print and third-party Web sites whose main audience is young children."

Kellogg hasn't said how much the modification process will cost, but has said that all of its products that don't meet these new standards will either be reformulated or remarketed by the end of 2008.

Read more at Money.cnn.com.

Labels: nutrition, healthy_eating, marketing

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Most parents do their best to find healthy foods for their children, and most of them rely on a food's packaging and nutritional information when making decisions about which cereals or breads to buy. The labels can be tricky, however, and sometimes even misleading.

"Kid's cereals often say 'Whole Grain' to appeal to parents, but the cereals are usually loaded with...sugar. A box of Cheerios, for example, has eight separate and prominent health claims... However: Sugar, honey and brown sugar syrup are numbers 2, 5 and 6 on the ingredient list."

The best thing a parent can do is look for foods that have short ingredient lists. Your kids may not like these simpler foods at first, but they'll get used to them over time.

Read more at LiveScience.com.

Labels: nutrition, healthy_eating, labels

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Shaq has a new television show. Titled "Shaq's Big Challenge", the first episode aired last Tuesday, with the goal of motivating kids to lead healthier lives. Six Florida middle school students participate in the Big Challenge and the show tracks their progress.

"To combat complacency among his six young participants, O'Neal enlisted a 'dream team' of experts, including his own physician and trainer, Dr. Carlon 'Doc' Colker, personal trainer Tarik Tyler, nutritionaist Dr. Joy Bauer, and childhood obesity expert Dr. William Muinos."

O'Neal and his team hope to be a catalyst for young people, their communities, and the shows viewers. Read more at OCRegister.com.

Wellspring Family Camp is the world's first weight loss camp for young children and their parents. Children ages 5-13 attend Family Camp accompanied by one or more parents or grandparents for a two-week session or an intensive one-week session. There are still openings at camps starting later this summer. Visit www.wellspringfamily.com to learn more.

Labels: healthy_eating, exercise, lifestyle

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If you ask kids what they want to eat, or for a snack, few will say "vegetables". Yet they're an important part of a growing child's diet. They're also a great way to add more flavor and less calories to some kid-favorite dishes.

"The researchers [at Penn State College of Health and Human Development] developed two variations of pasta, and served the dishes to 61 children between the ages of 3-5 on different occasions to conduct their research."

One dish was a standard pasta dish, while the other had 25% less calories and a pasta sauce that included blended vegetables. The children who sampled the dishes showed no clear preference. Read more at NSTA.org.

Children and teenagers can make poor choices when it comes to diet and other things they put in their bodies. If you are dealing with teen drug and alcohol abuse, visit Adolescent-Substance-Abuse.com for help and learn the sigs of teen drug use.

Labels: nutrition, healthy_eating, vegetables

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The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), the nation's largest philanthropy devoted to improving health and health care for Americans, has pledged more than $500 million to be used over the next five years in the fight against childhood obesity.

Funds will be used to enhance access to affordable healthy foods in underserved low-income communities, provide greater opportunity for physical activity in schools and communities, and pay for child obesity research. One recent research study funded by the RWJF examined a three-year Arkansas initiative to combat obesity. According to the RWJF study, Arkansas, which has one of the highest rates of childhood obesity, has been able to halt this alarming trend by taking measures in the schools, such as recording children's BMI and reporting this each year to parents, along with tips for good nutrition and appropriate exercise.

Labels: healthy_eating, research, funding

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Where can your child get a history lesson, information on healthy eating, and recipes simple enough for him or her to make with minimal supervisionall in one location? Log on to www.eu.mini-chefs.eu to see. Eu Mini-chefs is a new website for European kids (but your kids will enjoy it, too), recently launched as part of an effort to combat childhood obesity in Europe.

Your child can take a trip around Europe and discover recipes for regional cuisinesuch as Strawberries with Orange Granitaand learn about the history of each ingredient as well as the health benefits gained by eating them.

Future plans for EU Mini Chefs includes email newsletters and an interactive cooking game so that children can learn by playing.

Labels: healthy_eating, cooking, recipes

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A group of researchers from Harvard took a unique approach when studying the causes of childhood obesity. Rather than placing the blame on a lack of activity in children's lives because of the internet, television and video games, they looked at overall caloric intake.

"Based on the rate of weight gain that occurred in children between 1998 and 1994, they suggest that reducing calories (or increasing physical activity) by just 110 to 165 calories a day could have prevented weight gain."

Believe it or not, reducing caloric intake is easier than it sounds. Just one 1.8-ounce bag of Skittles or 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of extra-crunch peanut butter contains between 140 and 200 calories. Cutting out just one of these per day would have the desired effect. Read more at StarTribune.com.

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Labels: healthy_eating, exercise, lifestyle

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Some West Virginia schools, in an effort to address childhood obesity, have begun stocking cafeterias and vending machines with "faux-junk food". The pizza is made with low-fat cheese and a whole grain crust. The deep-fried super donuts are fortified with 5 grams of protein and 14 minerals and vitamins. But does this method teach the right kinds of eating habits?

"While the faux-junk food movement may be an appropriate stepping stone to healthy eating, some nutritionists say it could establish bad habits... [Dr. Stephen Daniels] worries that children who grow up eating faux-fast foods may have trouble making good food choices as adults."

Other nutritionists insist that children will eat healthier foods when they're prepared right, and that this establishes better eating habits as children learn how to correctly prepare and enjoy genuinely healthy food. Read more at MontereyHerald.com.

Labels: healthy_eating, junk_food, nutritionists

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