It’s all about the kids in this week’s edition of our weekly news links. Kids are talking about childhood obesity, and our schools and community organizations are too. For example, see the article below for information about how the Junior League of Indianapolis’ Kids in the Kitchen program helps teach kids how to make healthier choices. This week, we also included a few articles that may help you make some better selections for your kids’ lunches and snacks. With kids, parents, schools and the community on the same page, we can tackle childhood obesity and move a generation toward a healthier future.
Secretaries face children on obesity
Abcnews.com
Kids say the darndest things, and they’re asking some tough questions, too. In a recent Q and A with some of President Obama’s cabinet members, kids asked about school lunch choices and about whether or not the fast food industry is being held accountable.
Junior League to take kids to kitchen again
Indystar.com
The Junior League will be hosting its Kids in the Kitchen program this month for kids in grades 3–6. Kids will get moving and learn how to prepare healthy snacks and make healthy choices. Find out how to register for this March 13 event.
Nine kid foods to avoid
Time.com
The bad news: Those convenient, pre-packaged foods busy parents like to throw into school lunches or store in the pantry for quick, afterschool snacks may not be the best option. The good news: This list includes has some healthy alternatives.
Top 10 brain foods for children
Natuurgeneeskunde.wazzup.nl
Many Indiana students are gearing up for ISTEP this week, so take a look at this list for some ideas that might help give your kid’s brain a boost. Peanut butter, whole grains and berries make the list, plus seven more.
Still looking for more ideas? Check out the transcript from last week’s Twitter chat with registered dietician and nutritionist Annessa Chumbley (@Flourish_Girl). Annessa shared great ideas on finding the “real” healthy food at the grocery store, and our chat participants shared their suggestions for lunches and snacks. Our next Twitter chat on March 9 at 6:30 p.m. ET will focus on the changes schools are making to promote healthier eating—a major piece of the national Let’s Move initiative that is confronting childhood obesity. Follow us on Twitter (@fitcityindy) and look for #indyfitchat.
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No Goldfish? Ack! According to that Time article, Goldfish are high on the list for no-no foods!
In all seriousness, I am happy and relieved that most of the foods on the lsit aren’t in my home or on my kids lists of foods they like. Whew!
One food- a brain food- that my daughter loves is fish. and something helping that along right now is the PBS show Dinosaur Traing. The Pteranadon Family eats fish and have a little song they sing about it- which my daughter sings too. She’s always loved fish- tilapia was her first protein as a baby. I love that my kids love baked fish better than fish sticks! They also recently fell in love with hard boiled eggs. They love to crack and peel them and eat them- but they don’t love the dry yellows.
Really love the ABC News story!
I know–goldfish! Believe or not, there was a raging debate at my son’s preschool 10 years ago — yes 10 years ago — as to whether goldfish should be included on a healthy snacks list.
I know I pack lunches 4 days a week, and it’s hard not to throw in what I call the pseudo-healthy snacks — the food bars that claim to have fruit, the yogurt full of sugar, etc. I know my kids like some of those things, and I guess it’s better than throwing in a candy bar! I have eliminated juice boxes. My kids get milk or water and that’s been a good thing.
Jennifer- do you ever shop at Trader Joe’s? I have found a lot of options to replace the unhealthier stuff. I won’t buy certain brands of yogurt for me or my kids because they contain high fructose corn syrup- blech. But at TJ’s, I can buy great yogurt- full fat or low fat and even organic options- that my kids and I both love. I have found a lot of options there that are healthier options than the snacks I find elsewhere.
Unfortunately, we don’t have a Trader Joe’s on the west side. I get there (and I discovered Whole Foods up north too) when I’m up on the north side of town. I just saw a health food store in Hendricks County on Rockville Road that I need to check out, plus the new Kroger in Speedway has some nice healthy options (plus the healthy stuff is right in the front of the store).