LiveWell Get Movin’ Mobile has people busting moves
See how LiveWell’s Get Movin’ Mobile is getting crowds dancing to the LiveWell “Groove” and finding out that getting moving is easy and a blast. It’s all about the movement to get moving. Check out the video above. You’ll find yourself tapping your toes – or dancing around the house.
Five mistakes parents make when feeding their kids
Every day I hear about tremendous strides in the fight to combat childhood obesity, but for every pound we lose, we seem to gain two back. Here are five common mistakes parents make on a daily basis with their children’s diets and how they can take a few simple steps to ensure their children will live a long healthy life. Read more in Epicurious.
Hop on a walking school bus to cut obesity
Cutting out the traditional yellow school bus could be a way to curb childhood obesity. Researchers from around the world are experimenting with the concept of a “walking school bus” to boost activity rates, reduce traffic, and cut obesity risks. Read more in the New York Daily News.
Chocolate milk gets a makeover
Is chocolate milk a healthful choice for schoolchildren?
Some nutritionists say chocolate milk is a perfectly fine snack for students, one that provides much-needed calcium and vitamins, and is a healthy alternative to sugary juices and sodas. But others say flavored milks, with their added sugars, contribute to the childhood obesity epidemic. Some school districts have tried removing flavored milk from their cafeterias entirely, but studies show that many students simply skip milk altogether when they do not have flavored milk as an option. Read more at this New York Times blog.
And check out what “renegade lunch lady” Ann Cooper has to say about modified chocolate milk. Watch the EdNews Parent video of Cooper, read the short story, and take the poll.
Happy Kids Are Healthy Kids family wellness event
A day full of fun and healthy activities and education sponsored by Healthy Learning Paths will be held from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 27, at Broomfield Community Park , 3 Community Park Road.
Cost is $5 per family. Please pay with check or cash only. Children are invited to pick up a Passport to Health and travel to at least five stations and receive a stamp at each to complete their passport. A kids’ T-shirt is included while supplies last. Meet former NFL players, including Denver Bronco Darius Holland; Tennessee Titan, Jamie Heiner; and FIBA Europe basketball pro, Patrick Mutombo. Also, enjoy a continental breakfast provided by RW Knudsen, Santa Cruz Organic, Einstein Bros Bagels and more.
Program of events: Family wellness programs, Bodacious Breakfast program, Walk4Kids’ Health, live music with The Tunisia Band, Golden Bear Bike Rodeo, Dance4Kids’ Health with Dance Arts, Groovin’ Groceries music, Tickle your Tooth, sidewalk art with Mythica, and much more. Learn more and review the full program.
How do we talk to our kids about weight?
For all the national conversations about eliminating childhood obesity – and it’s a favorite subject for luminaries as varied as first lady Michelle Obama, TV doctor Mehmet Oz, and rapper 50 Cent – there’s still one place where the discussion doesn’t flow so easily: at home. Read more in the Boston Globe.
Dangerous? Book about dieting teen targets kids aged 6-12
A children’s picture book in which a pudgy 14-year-old girl gets thin enough eventually to become her school’s soccer star has come under attack before anyone has cracked open a copy. Check out this ABC News report.
Integrated obesity prevention programs effective for middle-schoolers
Educational programs that focus on obesity and eating disorder prevention appear to be effective when integrated into middle-school curriculum, and the researchers of a new study said these types of programs should be implemented into more schools. Read more.
About our First Person series:
First Person is where Chalkbeat features personal essays by educators, students, parents, and others trying to improve public education. Read our submission guidelines here.