Posted by AJ Pearlman, Associate Director for Policy, Let’s Move! on September 25, 2013
At the Neighborhood House Association Head Start in San Diego, California, Registered Dietitian Kristine Smith and the Neighborhood House Association Nutrition Services Chef teamed up to make meals healthier for thousands of Head Start preschoolers.
They started by switching from a ‘heat-and-serve’ style of cooking to preparing breakfasts, lunches, and snacks from scratch every day. They replaced menu items like hot dogs, frozen fish sticks, and chicken nuggets with freshly prepared foods like multi-grain bagels with flavored cream cheeses, chicken with homemade BBQ sauce, and cilantro hummus with all-natural pita chips. Plus, they incorporated more fresh vegetables and herbs that add new colors, textures, tastes, and aromas to the meals.
Posted by Lori Richard, Providence Public School District Food Service Operations Manager on September 24, 2013
Last year, our school district participated in an Adopt a Farm Project to highlight the use of local produce on school lunch menus throughout the state of Rhode Island. Pezza Farm in Johnston, RI planted 10 acres of land that yielded 8,000 pounds of produce, while the school district’s central kitchen developed new recipes to integrate the harvest into school menus.
Posted by Logan Block, Programs Manager, Miami Children's Museum on September 23, 2013
Ed. Note: This blog was originally posted on www.imls.gov. To view the full post, click here. This blog post is made in conjunction with September's National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month.
My father, a lifelong elementary school educator, used to say of children and learning, “Our work is our play.” With 56,500 square feet to discover, explore, and investigate, guests at Miami Children’s Museum have a lot of space to cover. Our entire building naturally invites guests to be active and move; to play. Our museum provides children with an outlet to express themselves in creative ways through fun and interactive programming that encourages movement and an active lifestyle. We’re always looking for ways to turn the guest experience from a passive one to an active one.
Posted by Shannon Feaster, Deputy Executive Director, President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition on September 20, 2013
This week, Nickelodeon, one of the world’s leading entertainment companies for kids, turned the “City that Never Sleeps” into a “City of Play,” hosting its biggest celebration of play ever! Leading up to the 10th Annual Worldwide Day of Play (WWDoP), on Saturday, September 21st, Nickelodeon is encouraging kids and their families to get up, get out and go play! For the last decade, during its Worldwide Day of Play celebration, Nickelodeon has gone dark for three hours, taking programming off the air and shutting down its websites for three hours from 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. (ET/PT).
Posted by Elyse Cohen, Deputy Director, Let’s Move! on September 19, 2013
From the State Dining Room of the White House yesterday, the First Lady addressed a diverse cross section of leaders from food and media industry executives, advocates, parent leaders, government agency representatives and researchers about the power of marketing in influencing kids’ food choices and the need for leveraging this power toward healthier food options for our nation’s children.
Posted by Diane Harris, PhD, MPH, CHES, Health Scientist and Team Lead, CDC Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity on September 16, 2013
Many Americans aren't eating enough fruits and vegetables, but salad bars in schools can help.
Research shows that fruits and vegetables are important to promoting good health. Yet, many Americans are not getting the recommended amount they need each day.
Posted by Elyse Cohen, Deputy Director, Let’s Move! on September 13, 2013
Yesterday, First Lady Michelle Obama joined the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) and actress Eva Longoria to announce PHA’s new effort to encourage everyone to drink more water.
Posted by Dominique Dawes, 3-Time Olympic Gymnast, Co-Chair, President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition on September 11, 2013
Ed. Note: This blog was originally posted on www.fitness.gov. See the original post here.
At a very early age, I learned about the value of healthy eating. By the time I was 11 years old and training daily as a gymnast, I knew that eating right would help me achieve my goals. The goals I had for health, athletics, and academic performance were all tied to eating nutritious foods, and that started with breakfast. As an adult, I’ve maintained goals for fitness and health and that’s why I make sure to start each morning with a healthy breakfast.
Posted by Donna Johnson-Bailey, MPH, RD, U.S. Department of Agriculture on September 10, 2013
Ed. note: This is crossposted from blogs.usda.gov. See the original post here.
Back-to-school is an exciting time of year that provides new opportunities for teaching and learning. The USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion offers great nutrition resources for young children, parents, and educators for this upcoming school year. ChooseMyPlate.gov now features MyPlate Kids’ Place, a new section of the website designed for children between the ages of 8 and 12 years old. MyPlate Kids’ Place offers fun resources for kids, such as games, videos, and songs, that encourage them to make better food and physical activity choices throughout the school year. In addition, resources for parents and educators are available to engage their children and students in “teachable moments” that will influence their food decisions.
Posted by Cameron Brenchley, Director of Digital Strategy, U.S. Department of Education on September 9, 2013
Ed. note: This is crossposted from ed.gov/blog. See the original post here.
Across the country, students and teachers are cracking open their books and sharpening their new number twos for the start of an exciting new school year. And while the unofficial end of summer has passed, it doesn’t mean we can’t look back on all the fun we had with our friends and family.
Posted by Elyse Cohen, Deputy Director, Let’s Move! on September 7, 2013
School is back in session and what better way to celebrate than by breaking a sweat? Yesterday afternoon, First Lady Michelle Obama joined students from Orr Elementary in Washington D.C. along with some stellar athletes for the Let’s Move! Active Schools Back to School event. The First Lady spoke to educators and administrators about the important role that schools and their teachers have in fostering a healthier environment for this generation of kids.
Posted by Elyse Cohen, Deputy Director, Let’s Move! on September 5, 2013
President Barack Obama declared September 2013 as National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, encouraging Americans to get involved in promoting healthy eating and physical activity for our kids nationwide.
Posted by Larry Chambers, Office of Communication, U.S. Forest Service on August 30, 2013
Ed. note: This is crossposted from blogs.usda.gov. See the original post here. Learn more about the history of Labor Day, and the history of the U.S. Department of Labor.
What better way to spend a three-day weekend than outside with friends and family? America’s national forests and grasslands offer a wide variety of recreation opportunities ranging from backcountry camping far from civilization to developed picnic areas with all the facilities you need for the perfect end-of-summer barbecue with family and friends.
Of course, there are still fires burning in some areas of the country so check the status of your destination before heading out. Safety is key.
Here are a few ideas to help you plan your weekend:
Camping
Ditch the video games and cable box this weekend and spend the night outside. Check out Recreation.gov for the latest information on reservations for developed camp sites. If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, the national forests have plenty of undeveloped sites offering a more up-close-and-personal experience with nature. Check your local forest or grassland web pages for more information.
Posted by Emily Ritchie, FoodCorps Fellow on August 29, 2013
The school day keeps getting healthier for kids in the Bend-LaPine School District in central Oregon! Building on the concept of Farm to School (connecting farmers to schools), Oregon is implementing an innovative concept called “Boat to School.” This program connects Oregon fishermen and processors with the school cafeteria and classroom so that local seafood is served on the lunch line and students learn about coastal communities.
Posted by AJ Pearlman, Associate Director for Policy, Let's Move! on August 28, 2013
As summer winds down and the new school year begins, it’s the perfect time to rev up your fruit intake and enjoy the last few weeks of in-season summer fruits!
