Alliance for a Healthier Generation is seeking a Alliance for a Healthier Generation is seeking a National School Health Policy Advisor for the Healthy Schools Program.  Position details available at:

http://ch.tbe.taleo.net/CH06/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=HEALTHIERGENERATION&cws=1&rid=105

Sarah Titzer
Alliance for a Healthier Generation

Children who spent more time doing moderate or vigorous physical activity during school hours did not compensate for their extra exercise by reducing their activity levels at home, according to a study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Previous research has suggested that kids have a built-in "activitystat" that regulates the total amount of energy they expend (see Reuters Health story of May 7, 2009 here: reut.rs/iGDVdO…

Here's a neat PDF that the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation compiled from their 30 tweets of 30 facts about childhood obesity, during Childhood Obesity Month.

Download HERE.

by Andrea Bossenmeyer

A great free resource came into my inbox today. We all know we should eat at least 4-5 servings of fruits and veggies everyday. Here's a great way to find locally grown across US & Canada. The Eat Well Guide® is a free online directory featuring over 22,000 listings where anyone can search for fresh, locally grown and sustainably produced food.

And if you live in Wisconsin Farm Aid is having a 25th Bday Celebration.

T…

Contributed by Andrea Bossenmeyer

Yet another research study is emerging showing that if you stick Dora or Shrek or any other popular cartoon character on the front of a box or a banana that is what the child will choose to eat. The study shows preschoolers will choose the higher-calorie, less healthful foods over more nutritious options.

"The bottom line is that when kids are presented with a choice of graham crackers, fruit snacks or carrot…

Contributed by Andrea Bossenmeyer


Wouldn't having more money for physical education programs and bureaucratic support for getting kids fit be amazing?

Michelle Obama's Let's Move Campaign has another initiative she's kicking off. This initiative is called Let's Move Cities & Town's.

To become a prospective Let’s Move City or Let’s Move Town, mayors and elected officials can make an impact by:

1. Helping Parents Make …

Contributed by Andrea Bossenmeyer.

Have you heard? The Mayor Of Oklahoma City put his citizens on a diet? In order to bring attention to the issue of obesity, he created a website to help citizens of Oklahoma lose 1 million pounds together. The city is on the list of the Top Ten Obese Cities in America.

There are many initiatives such as helping push fast food's healthier options menu, working with "The Biggest Loser" as well as b…

Contributed by Andrea Bossenmeyer


The Let's Move Campaign has started a new initiative called, "Chefs move to Schools" Initiative. There was a groundbreaking introductory event at the White House where hundreds of chefs from 37 States attended. The initiative is intended to help students learn where food comes from, and develop healthy habits. Ms. Obama said to the chefs, "You’ll be elevating the role of food in our schools, an…

By Andrea Bossenmeyer


There are numerous scientists testing the effects of BPA in our food supply, and how it affects our bodies. The early research is suggesting that 92% of food from metal cans is contaminated with an estrogen-like chemical called BPA, or bisphenol A.

BPA has been linked to changes in prostate cells and increased aggression in animals.
The National Toxicology Program has said it has “some concern” that BPA alters development of…

by Andrea Bossenmeyer

Jamie Oliver also known as the Naked Chef has found purpose and meaning in his life above and beyond his chef skills. Mr. Oliver is campaigning for kids with a new project called the Food Revolution. He is working on bringing awareness about food back into the lives of every person. He has been filming a TV series in Virginia about food – how families eat, what kids get at school and why, the diet of processed food and snack…

Survey for the Alliance for a Healthier Generation finds most parents willing to help schools improve food offerings and increase physical activity.

In fact, vast majority of parents want schools to limit students’ access to high-calorie chips, sodas and candy and to offer them opportunities for physical activity throughout the day, a new survey by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation shows.

The national survey, indicates that nearly eight in…

Registration is now open for the School Wellness Conference in Anaheim, CA. The conference will begin on October 5 for a pre-conference event, Finding common ground: Collaborating to prevent childhood obesity which will explore the foundations of collaboration among schools, cities and others. Specifically, it will address strategies for collaboration around nutrition, physical activity, joint-use of indoor and outdoor recreational facilities…

If you're part of a team writing a new school board policy or researching background information for the development of a school board policy on health related items you may want to take a look at the newly announced National School Board Association's web-based resource of Promising District Practices and policies database.

The website features a searchable database of local school district
successes in developing, implementing, and eval…

HHS’ CDC’s Health Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (HECAT) is now available.

If you are selecting or developing appropriate and effective health education curricula, enhancing your existing health education curriculum or improving the delivery of health education:

CDC's Health Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (HECAT) is a resource The HECAT now includes guidance, appraisal tools, and resources needed to conduct a clear, complete, and consi…

Current educational practice and policy focus overwhelmingly on academic achievement, but this is only one element of student learning and development. A child is more than a grade on a test. Given what we now know about learning and development, we can do better and we can do more.

Sign the ASCD Whole Child petition to tell your state board of education that they must do more to educate the whole child. Because when we can do more, then we shoul…

For the past few years the concern over childhood obesity has dominated school lunch discussions. But the economic crisis facing the nation is spilling over into schools. Susan Phillips, a teacher at Enfield Elementary School, in rural Enfield, New York, recently noticed that one of her fourth-grade students was always cranky and distracted at the start of the week but turned mild mannered by Tuesday.

The verdict, he was hungry. It wasn't a…

Join us on December 5, 2008 at 10 a.m. PST for the Recess Before Lunch: Five Steps to Success Webinar. Attend this free webinar where we share 5 steps to prepare staff, students and parents for successful implementation.

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/144069585

CA Superintendent of Schools, Jack O'Connell is appealing to the Federal Government to provide more funds for California's free and reduced lunch students. With CA's budget shortfall it is estimated that schools will run out of lunch funds by January 09.

Health advocates are concerned that the high cost of fresh fruits and vegetables will also result in serving canned fruits and vegetables which are less expensive.

"Without qu…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) is looking for strong district-level coordinated school health programs (CSHP). DASH is interested in gaining a better understanding of the essential characteristics necessary for program success. To accomplish this, DASH will be conducting site visits with selected CSHPs to learn more about them. DASH may offer assistance in evaluating these p…

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation is a joint initiative between the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation and its mission is to tackle one of our nation's leading health problems – childhood obesity. The goal of the Alliance is to stop the nationwide increase in childhood obesity by 2010 by taking bold, innovative steps to help all children live longer and healthier lives.
The Alliance believes that helping s…