Diet drinks for children?!

In researching childhood obesity I recently came across an article which described parents giving their overweight or obese children diet drinks such as slimfast or medifast meals...I was quite shocked and alarmed.

While limiting calorie consumption is on the right track, a more nutritious choice for the developing bodies of children is to focus on 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day...As well as following the FDA food guide pyramid.
If parents or schools need guidance on how to take the weight off in a healthy fashion, there is a great website: Eat Smart Play Hard

Obesity trend slowing??

A recent report is suggesting that after a 20 year growth in obesity statistics it is finally leveling off. The proportion of US children and adolescents who were unusually heavy for their height rose by about 20 per cent from 1999 to 2004, but didn't change between 2003 and 2006.
The most recent statistic is that 32% are overweight obese, compared to 29% in 1999.

Let's keep this trend at a halt by keeping kids active this summer!

Suggested activities are:

1) Riding bikes
2) Swimming
3) A youth league such as baseball, basketball, dance or gymnastics

* and make sure the kids stay hydrated!



These latest figures are from Cynthia Ogden and colleagues at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Hyattsville, Maryland, who surveyed 8000 young people (Journal of the American Medical Association, vol 299, p 2401)

Foods that boost brain power

Recent studies indicate that what you eat effects how you do in school. A recently released study shows that homegrown foods have a positive impact on everything from test scores to attendance. Most recently, the “Children’s Lifestyle and School-Performance Study,” which appeared in the April issue of the Journal of School Health, found that children—regardless of their socioeconomic status—performed better in school if they increased their fruit and vegetable intake and decreased their caloric intake from fat.

Many schools are implementing on-site gardens, so children can learn about where food comes from and have a direct experience of connection to their health.

One of the smartest responses I've read in regards to the rising costs of integrating organic foods into the cafeterias and school sites is from Vanessa Ruddy a parent of a 14 year old and a 2nd grader. “Compromising with food is compromising on children’s health.” Vanessa helped integrate an organic school lunch program at Lincoln Elementary in Washington.

There is an excellent lengthy article on all the efforts being made by many schools across the country. Feel free to read it here.

Google Health Goes Live

As of May 19, 2008 Google Health went live and is a free service available for storing health records and health related information. I'm partial to the idea largely because about 5 years ago my insurance company folded right in the middle of a cancer diagnosis and about 3 days before I was scheduled for surgery. Needless to say I was scrambling for a new doctor but without any medical records I was at a complete loss. Not only was it frightening but frustrating! Storing prescriptions, tests and results, dates and specialists would have been helpful. My current medical carrier has test results to download and could go directly into Google Health.

Something to think about. Check it out.

Google Health puts you in charge of your health information. It's safe, secure, and free.
* Organize your health information all in one place
* Gather your medical records from doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies
* Keep your doctors up to date about your health
* Be more informed about important health issues

Mattel Announces Continuation of Grant Program to Benefit Children

Deadline for Applications: July 15, 2008

Mattel and the Mattel Children's Foundation have announced they will continue the Mattel Domestic Grantmaking Program, which provides funding for organizations benefiting children in the United States.

Mattel's funding priorities include: programs that directly and effectively impact children with demonstrated needs (physical, financial, emotional, and health- related); preferences to programs with demonstrated results; and organizations that use creative and innovative methods to address a locally defined need directly impacting children.

Preference will be given to organizations or programs that align with Mattel's philanthropic priorities:

1. Learning -- Increasing access to education for under- served children and, in particular, innovative strategies to promote and address literacy;

2. Health -- Supporting the health and well- being of children, with particular emphasis on promoting healthy, active lifestyles; and

3. Girl Empowerment -- Promoting self- esteem in young girls, up to age 12.

Applicants must be 501(c)(3) tax- exempt public charity organizations (or have a fiscal sponsor with tax- exempt status) and must directly serve children in communities within the U.S. Grants
Mattel Grants will range from $5,000 to $25,000 each for one fiscal year. Funds may be applied to programs or general operating costs.

Produce for kids.org

Go Visit Produce for Kids to get:

For Kids

• healthy recipe ideas for kids'
• tips for kids IE: Why fruits & veggies are good for you, brain food for all that you do & a food guide pyramid for kids
  
• as well as fun games for kids with Curious George, the cookie monster and many more colorful friends.
  

For Adults

• Register to win a family vacation
• Recipes for the whole family
• Resources for topics like obesity, FAQs on childhood, and the PFK advisory board

Another great resource to keep your kids healthy and fit!

Previous posts on nutrition:

Got Milk? Rewards Moms...

New Study: Cutting Fat & Sugar in Schools

Free Nutrition and Physical Activity Materials

Recess Before Lunch: Breaking with Tradition

Got Milk? Rewards Moms...

The got milk campaign is taking time to reward Mom's for being the nutritional gatekeepers in their homes and for keeping kids healthy! Mom's are being dubbed the 72% solution, because it has been discovered that moms influence 72% of what kids eat and drink.

This campaign is being called Project Mom. Moms can be rewarded with a $100,000 paycheck, for keeping their kids healthy. The campaign notes, one small change like serving lowfat or fat free milk instead of sugary soft drinks and fruit drinks can make a big difference in the health and weight of children and teens. Studies show that children who drink milk instead of sugar-sweetened drinks tend to be leaner and have better quality diets that are richer in essential nutrients -- particularly calcium, which is so vital for growing children.

There are a ton of resources on their website for moms. Go check it out!

Similar Posts: New Study Cutting Sugar and Fat in Schools
Recess Before Lunch: Breaking with Tradition
Free Nutrition and Physical Activity Materials
From Farm to School Lunchroom

Get Movin' Night from PTO Today

PTO Today has teamed up with Nestles to provide GO PLAY event materials for elementary schools to get families to "get up, go play and get moving together."

According to event materials: " Parents are encouraged to bring kids into the school gym for a night of wacky games, playful contests, healthy activities, music and more! This new PTO event is sure to get everyone up and out of their seats for a little fun and a whole lot of involvement. "

Get Moving Night materials link.

Similar Posts: Canada's Family Guide to Physical Activity
Winter Sports Tool Kids

New Study: Cutting Fat & Sugar in Schools

by Andrea Bossenmeyer

The new issue of The Journal of Pediatrics, published a Temple University study showing the true power schools do have in reducing rates of obesity.

The researchers chose to examine schools impact in reducing obesity, factoring in that kids eat 1-2 meals at school per day. They went into 10 schools and revamped their menus. Soda was replaced with water, fruit juice and low-fat milk; snacks were capped at 7 grams of total fat and 2 grams of saturated fat; and candy was eliminated. Additional factors besides nutrition revamp, was nutrition education and parental involvement.

The research study was successful in reducing the amount of new cases of obesity by half; however was unsuccessful in reducing the amount of children who were already obese.

To read more : Philadelphia Study

Slides and History of NYC Playgrounds

Playgrounds Grow Up is the title of an article and slide show highlighting a history of playgrounds in NYC. The article was published in Jan. 2007 in the NY Times. This slide show and audio narrative provides a great overview and history of playgrounds over the last century. The slide show ends with Imagination Playground which I blogged about last Friday, April 18.

Imagination Playground: A model for future urban playgrounds.

Click on the link below or cut and paste it into your browser to view a great slide show reviewing playground design for urban areas and the progression of playgrounds over the past century. http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/weekinreview/20070114_PLAY_FEATURE/index.html

Thanks to Playscapes Blog for pointing out a great slide show that I would have otherwise missed.

Neos : Super Sized Playground Electronic Game

Kinetic. Explosive. Interactive. NEOS moves at the speed of light. It's Challenging........ The world's newest electronic sport is an electronic game for the heart and lungs—not just the thumbs. It's a giant video looking game with all the bells and point possibilities of a hand held but this game gets kids hearts pumping and pounding.

Obesity the new "normal"

This article was copied in its entirety because it gives such a great perspective...
post submitted by Andrea Bossenmeyer

Of all the challenges to reversing our national obesity epidemic, the one that concerns me most is what I call the "distortion of normality." While constants in science (physical values or principles) are well known and don't change, life has far fewer "constants."

The constants we tend to adhere to most often are defined by our culture. Case in point: our relationships with food.

What we like to consider normal food intake and portions are far from constant. Aside from the differences between mainstream America and other countries, many of our internal definitions of "normal" change from generation to generation.

Take for example dress sizes. In 1933, the hip measurement for a size 8 dress was 33 1/2 inches. Today, a size 8 hip measurement is 38 inches. The average American today weighs 24 pounds more than in 1960.

But consider food and drink portions. A serving size of soda in 1956 was 8 ounces. Today, the standard size is 20 ounces. The standard adult meal serving at McDonald's in 1971, which consisted of a hamburger, bag of french fries and an 8-ounce drink, is what we now call a child's meal. Read the labels; many children's fast food meals are really adult portions.

Besides humongous soft-drink cup sizes, what about those bagels or doughnuts the size of spares tires on a Volkswagen? Or muffins the size of a grapefruit? Bags of chips are larger than ever, cookies seem as big as Frisbees; burgers have two, sometimes three patties stacked on the bun.

Now consider this: To your child, these portions are the definition of "normal" they will grow up with and pass on to their children.

Anyone with this sense of history should not be surprised that we're all getting larger. By the end of the first year of life, the typical American baby is overfed by 250 calories a day.

According to a recent study, factors known to have the greatest effect on encouraging childhood obesity include 1) being Hispanic, 2) having an overweight mother, 3) taking a baby bottle to bed, and 4) having a low or high (more than 9 pounds) birth weight. While three of these can't be changed, one can. Breast feeding reduces the risk of child obesity by 4 percent for every month the infant is nursed. It also helps mom lose weight gained during the pregnancy.

While "normal" is defined by the times and our culture, we can't escape one universal constant: Newton's first law of thermodynamics.

Simply stated, energy cannot be created or destroyed, it only changes form. Energy, in the form of excess calories, is either burned up (typically by exercise) or is turned into body tissue with all the extra calories becoming fat.

We live in a fast food and processed food subculture, driven by speed, cost and convenience. In this kind of culture, obesity, or at least a greater acceptance of it, has become the new normal.

In 1986, 55 percent of Americans considered overweight people less attractive. Today, only 24 percent of Americans carry the same beliefs. Attitudes are changing and we've become much more accepting of obesity. Is that how overweight and obesity will become the "new normal" of the 21st century?

I've had kids brought into my clinic because the parents are concerned that their child was "too small" when in reality their son or daughter was normal for height and weight, but smaller than their siblings, cousins or friends. Because so many of the family members are oversized or obese, any members who are normal by standard growth charts are looked upon as underweight or too small.

Every few decades, new charts for defining normal growth and development are created. When the next charts are issued, childhood overweight and obesity will then truly become part of the medical establishment's definition of normality.

The explosion of food portion sizes and the calories that accompany it create an imbalance in our kids' perception of what is appropriate versus what is normal. Is it "normal" for your child to consume a single bag of microwave popcorn while drinking a 20-ounce soda? Read the nutrition facts label on each product and you'll see that those two items have enough calories for almost three adults.

The standard candy bars are 100 percent larger than just a few years ago; and with 100 percent more calories, too. Again, remember that these food experiences will define and shape your child's perception of what is normal.

Child obesity is the new "normal" of the 21st century. It will remain that way if portion sizes are uncontrolled or are not checked by parents and in home attitudes about proper eating. Many experts say that we live in a toxic food environment.

Make the home an oasis from the problem, not its focal point. Failure to do so will continue to drive higher rates of early childhood obesity, Type 2 diabetes, early heart disease and a shortened life expectancy.

Dr. Stephen Ponder, who has Type 1 diabetes, has been a pediatric endocrinologist for 20 years. He is director of the Children's Diabetes and Endocrine Center of South Texas at Driscoll Children's Hospital. Contact him at 694-4864 or stephen.ponder@dchstx.org

SOPLAY instrument for Observing Kids At Play

At Peaceful Playgrounds we often receive phone calls asking for an instrument that schools and/or researchers can use to assess physical activity. We most often refer these folks to Thom McKenzie Ph.D. at San Diego State University (CA) and his SOPLAY Instrument which is a system for observing play and leisure activity in youth.

SOPLAY is a validated direct observation tool for assessing physical activity and associated environmental characteristics in free play settings (e.g., recess and lunch at school).

SOPLAY provides objective data on the number of participants and their physical activity levels during play and leisure opportunities in targeted areas. Separate scans are made for males and females, and simultaneous entries for contextual characteristics of areas including their accessibility, usability, and whether or not supervision, organized activities, and equipment are provided. The predominant type of activity engaged in by area users is also recorded (e.g., basketball, dance).

Gyms sign new members-KIDS!

According to 9 year old Sydnie the gym situation is working out just fine because: "the adults don't really bother us because we're doing our own thing and they're doing theirs."

Sydnie's mom has a different perspective: " bringing the kids to the gym with me is a way for me to show, not 'tell' them that I work out, too, to be healthy." She adds that "it's a nice combination for a busy parent to have that option of working out at the same time."

Parents are increasingly looking for ways to keep kids active as childhood obesity, and the health complications that stem from it, have become a growing problem in the U.S. So, seeing an opportunity to expand their market, these establishments are stepping in and offering specific classes for children of various ages, including gymnastics, martial arts and swimming. They also are carving out times to allow kids to use gym equipment and even work out with a personal trainer. And parents get the added benefit of being able to work out at the same time.

More on Gyms sign kids.......

Healthier Food Choices Can Be Taught

Results of a new study to be released today in the April issue of Pediatrics will show that healthier food choices and removal of high calorie foods in school vending machines makes a difference. Additionally snacks were scaled back and they banished candy. researchers handed out raffle tickets for wise food choices and spent hours teaching kids, their parents and teachers about good nutrition.

It paid off. The number of kids of obese children during the two-year experiment was half the number of kids who got fat in schools that didn't make those efforts. It's a really dramatic effect from a public health point of view.

Public health officials have long maintained that schools are ideal settings for programs that target childhood obesity. Children spend long hours each day at schools and eat lunch and often breakfast at school. But previous school-based programs have had mixed results. The Philadelphia study put to the test a program developed by the Food Trust, a local nonprofit which works to improve access to affordable, healthy food.

Saucony Run For Good Grant

Saucony has been keeping up on the research that notes that 4 out of 5 children will carry the weight from adolescence to adulthood, which results in health problems.

The Saucony Run For Good Grant is open to communities and non-profits that initiate and support running and fitness programs for kids.

A child's view of "healthy diet"

By Andrea Bossenmeyer

A new report asked children what a healthy diet is, and they responded "One in which you do not gain weight." Rather than a diet that gives you all the nutrients, vitamins and minerals you need to grow and develop.

They also interviewed children as young as four. The research indicates that children can be strongly prejudiced against overweight people. Children had little sympathy for people who are overweight. Their perception was that these people are lazy and responsible for their condition.

The kids said that weight and size was how they determined a healthy person. They determined that the unhealthy effects of eating bad shows only externally (fat, skin issues, bad teeth), the children didn't consider internal consequences.

The report also found that while children were well able to recognize healthy foods from unhealthy foods, when they were given the option of a nutritious lunch or a meal with a high sugar content, they tended to opt for the unhealthier option.

To read more about the The Voice of Young People Report

Related Blogs on nutrition and Overweight
What consists of an appropriate snack?
Nutrition training changes eating habits of preschoolers.

Simmons "Fit Kids Act"

Richard Simmons' campaign to bring physical education classes back to schools is gaining some important supporters-- key policy makers on Capitol Hill. According to Simmons, he makes no apologies for his "impatience with the current presidential contest, characterizing it as a political circus that drowns out calls to address the real crisis in children's health and fitness".

Fitness Integrated with Teaching Kids Act (FIT Kids Act)
The purpose of the Fit Kids Act is to address the unprecedented childhood obesity epidemic. The Fitness Integrated with Teaching Kids Act (FIT Kids Act) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on July 31, 2007 by Representatives Ron Kind (D-WI), Zach Wamp (R-TN) and Jay Inslee (R-WA); and was introduced in the U.S. Senate on October 17, 2007 by Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA). If enacted, the FIT Kids Act would amend the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act to require that all schools, districts and states include the quantity and quality of PE in the “report cards” currently sent to parents. It would also ensure that children get the support they need to be active and make healthy food choices.

Listen to an interview with Simmons on the topics of physical education, the Fit Kids Act and his ideas on the specifics of the reform effort to improve the quality and quantity of physical education in schools ...

From the Farm to the School Lunchroom

The increased cost of fuel is affecting the costs of everything. Many school districts are having to cut items from the menu because they don't fit into the budget any longer!

One school district in Bainbridge, Washington is trying to pass a bill that allows the school districts to favor contracts from local farmers to get local foods on lunchrooms menus. Groups of parents hope the measure will rejuvenate interest in adding nutritious, naturally grown foods to the district’s menus.

Dr. Cowan, a physician and parent of students in the district said, "There is a growing body of science that shows that foods shed nutrients over long trips, while fossil fuels are burned shipping the foods from one state to another. Meanwhile, nutritionists are more and more abandoning vitamins pills and food pyramids in favor of fresh, lightly processed produce."

Meanwhile, Cowan said, local farms would benefit from new demand, which could in turn help preserve open space and aquifers. He hopes the district can take advantage of the new legislation, even if it only adds an incremental amount of fresh produce.

Overall I think its an innovative idea in trying to feed children nutritious options while boosting the local economy and agriculture all the while being environmentally friendly! To read more about their plan, click here.

What consists of an appropriate snack?

This article has been adapted from The Herald News
"Snack on this:Healthy alternatives for kids to munch on"
By Gina Lombardi

A very important distinction in food is between a treat and a snack...

Foods like cookies, ice cream, candy, and chips often come to mind when we think of snacks, however they are very clearly treats, because these types of foods are generally loaded with sugar and/or fat, contain lots of calories and very little nutrients.

Treats are foods to be eaten only once in a while — not every day!

Our eating habits begin to form when we are children and, for most of us, habits are very hard to break! As a parent you have the power to instill healthy eating habits in your children by offering them healthy foods every day and limiting high fat/high sugar foods to special occasions. Explain to your children that SNACKS will help their bodies to grow strong and healthy and that TREATS do not.

Peaceful Playgrounds, knows that a combination of both exercise AND NUTRITION is the way to a healthy happy mind and body.

Some SNACK ideas:

½ cup fresh or canned fruit (in natural juice, no sugar added)*
½ slice of reduced fat cheese
4-6 oz. yogurt
A handful of whole grain crackers
A handful of dry low-sugar cereal
A slice of whole grain bread or toast, ½ whole grain English muffin, or a whole grain waffle
A very small portion of leftovers from dinner the night before.
(Fruit should be cut into small pieces (grapes in quarter sections) for children under 3. Avoid giving hard, round, sticky or slippery foods to children under 3 as they pose a choking hazard.)
Age 3 and older:
½ cup baby carrots, sliced cucumbers, celery sticks, jicama and/or pepper slices with 1-2 tablespoons of yogurt, peanut butter, low fat dressing, or hummus for dipping
A handful of nuts
1 slice of whole grain bread or toast with peanut butter
2 cups of air-popped popcorn
¼ cup sunflower seeds
Try making a smoothie by blending yogurt, frozen fruit, low fat milk or 100 percent juice, a little honey and a pinch of cinnamon!