Success Stories
Celebrate Healthy Kids Day with the Y!
With summer right around the corner, this is a perfect time to get moving! For most kids, the end of the school year means more free time for adventures, outdoor activities, and fun with friends. At the same time, we know that a few months of inactivity can lead to critical gaps in health and education that put kids at risk for childhood obesity and learning loss. For parents, keeping their kids healthy and active during the summer requires planning and preparation.
Students in Indian Country Love Fruits and Vegetables from Salad Bars
A’ni (strawberry), adalonige gado galadisgi (carrot), gagama gagvmi (cucumber), gvgisdi (watermelon), and svkta (apple) -- Cherokee words for some of the favorite salad bar items for kids in Sequoyah Schools in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
Angelia Dowty is the food service director for Sequoyah Schools, which includes an elementary Cherokee language immersion school and a Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) high school. These schools provide food to more than 500 Native American students and staff. Angelia serves all of these kids a variety of fruits and vegetables from salad bars every day. Angelia said, “When I took over the food service program 3 years ago, there were some sweet treats on the salad bars, like puddings. I took all of those out and now only serve fruits and vegetables on my bars.”
Let’s Move! Child Care Update: Success Stories from Tribal Communities
Since the launch of Let’s Move! Child Care in June 2011, we’ve been receiving success stories from child care home providers, centers, Head Start programs, and all kinds of communities across the country. Here are a few examples of exciting activities tribes have launched to bring Let’s Move! Child Care into the lives of children and families.
You Can Get Moving with the Biggest Loser
Tonight, First Lady Michelle Obama issued a challenge to contestants on the Biggest Loser – and they need your help.
Throughout the season, contestants have worked hard to make lifestyle changes to improve their health and enhance their lives. Continuing these changes beyond the show and inspiring others to embark on the same live-saving journey is the next challenge for the remaining six contestants.
Let's Celebrate: February Let's Move! Highlights
In February we celebrated the second anniversary of Let’s Move!, and First Lady Michelle Obama took to the road, touring the country and highlighting the achievements of Let’s Move! programs in communities just like yours.
To date, the initiative has touched families, schools and organizations across the country and inspired local changes to improve the health, life and happiness of children and youth. We put together a collection of some of our favorite moments from the trip:
Making Locally Grown and Healthy Food Available
Three years ago, I was asked to participate in the White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity, out of which grew the First Lady’s Let’s Move! Initiative. In May 2010, we submitted a report to the President that made a series of recommendations for addressing the challenges of obesity and hunger, both of which stem from a lack of access to good, healthy food. The report identified local food systems as a strategy to combat food access problems, and specifically called upon the USDA Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiative to provide technical and financial assistance to help communities grow and process their own food, and create jobs at the same time.
I’m pleased to report that we’ve made a lot of progress since 2009 – and we have two new tools to help communities learn about what we’ve done and tap into USDA resources to develop their own solutions. The new Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass is a document packed with photos, video and case studies of communities building strong local food systems. Farmers’ markets, mobile produce vendors, farm to school initiatives, and food hubs are just a few of many examples highlighted by the Compass. The Healthy Food Access section shows how communities are using USDA resources to promote health and the local economy.
Adventist InStep for Life program a highlight of the Annual Health Summit in Orlando, FL
One of the highlights of this year’s Annual Health Summit in Orlando, FL sponsored by the North American Division of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, was the Adventist InStep for Life Celebration and Awards event. This year’s program marked the extraordinary achievements of Adventist hospitals, health ministers and congregations who are leading the way in increasing opportunities for physical activity and access to healthy, affordable food in their communities.
Holiday Celebrations are “On the Menu”
With the winter holidays right around the corner, now is the perfect time to start planning healthy, active, and fun holiday celebrations. Let’s Move!Child Care (LMCC) is encouraging providers to change the way they think about how food is offered and emphasized in child care settings. Many cultures—including mainstream American—celebrate with food, and eating together can foster social bonds. Healthy food should be celebrated! In fact, with a little creativity, your next holiday party can incorporate the same healthy principles that you follow the other times of the year.
The Community Food Co-op of Utah Makes Food Fun for Kids
Children in Salt Lake City, Utah are learning more about where their food comes from thanks to the innovative work of the Community Food Co-op of Utah, a Let’s Move supporter. According to their marketing manager, Leslie Proctor, this non-profit organization uses creativity to make learning about nutrition both exciting and rewarding. One activity Leslie incorporates into their nutrition education program is a question and answer game, in which children learn fun facts about healthy food. When a child answers a question correctly, they are rewarded with fresh produce, creating a positive connection between reward and health. Rather than the more frequent association of a sugary snack such as candy serving as an award for success, at this food store veggies are the desired prize. So ignore the sweets and pass the zucchini!
