Nutrition
“Go/Slow/Whoa” at the Supermarket?
Illinois’s Champaign-Urbana Public Health District is taking CATCH to a whole new level: your grocer’s food aisles. According to The News-Gazette: Depending on where you grocery shop, you’ll be seeing signs that read “Go,” “Slow,” or “Whoa,” in the food aisles soon. They’re part of a healthy-eating and physical-activity program the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District is promoting with area schools. The program helps children and their families make better food choices. But the food signs are there in the stores to guide all shoppers, just like traffic signs guide drivers: “Go” foods are intended...
Read MoreComprehensive Standards for Out-of-School Programs
On August 9, 2011, in Chicago, Illinois, the Healthy Out-of-School Time Coalition (HOST) – in connection with the YMCA of the USA – announced the first-ever comprehensive national nutrition and physical activity standards for out-of-school programs for children in grades K to 12. The new guidelines are the latest tool in the fight against childhood obesity and a step in promoting healthy options for the more than 8 million children that participate in out-of-school programs at least three hours a day, according to statistics from HOST. The new standards are the result of a comprehensive research project funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Over...
Read MoreBridge the Generation Gap
Richmond, Virginia – How do you teach healthy habits to kids? With CATCH, of course! And the same thing goes for adults over 50. According to Fifty Plus – a magazine that aims to reflect and enhance local 50-plus lifestyles, something fantastic happens when you bring kids and adults together. (That) something…stands to benefit both groups. The little ones - kindergarten through fifth grade - will learn about nutrition, prepare and eat healthful snacks, and participate in physical exercise. The adults - aged 50 or thereabout and beyond - will learn more about nutrition, direct the assembling of healthful snacks and enjoy them with the children, and...
Read MoreNew and Old Work Together
Our own Carol Caldara, MA CHES recently attended the Society for Nutrition Education Convention in Kansas City, Minnesota and reports: Kevin Concannon, MSW, USDA Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Sciences discussed how the new MyPlate and 2010 Dietary Guidelines affect nutrition education, consumers and the food industry. Concannon said that educational materials based on MyPyramid can still be used in conjunction with the new MyPlate icon. The information about what and how much to eat has not changed: both MyPyramid and MyPlate are illustrations based upon the same food groups and quantity recommendations. The ChooseMyPlate.gov Web site contains much of...
Read MoreHave Fun with Healthy Food – Tips from Our Nutritionist
CATCH Nutritionist and Certified Health Education Specialist Carol Caldara wants teachers, parents and other child caregivers to know that living a healthy lifestyle can be fun for kids. ‘Go’ Foods for Summer – Made Fun • Be sure to drink plenty of water. Make this the ‘go to’ beverage during hot days to replace lost body fluids. Add fresh lemon or lime for a low-calorie flavor twist. Use colorful, reusable water bottles. This helps make drinking water more fun for kids, and reduces the waste of plastic bottles. • Add lean protein to salads to make healthy greens the centerpiece of your summer dinner plate: try grilled chicken,...
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