Let's Move

Now that I am involved with the Y on this grant to help prevent childhood obesity I am spending a lot of time researching different websites on getting kids more fit. I was just on Michele Obama's Letsmove.gov website and here are some of her suggestions for community leaders to help kids get fit:

"Neighborhood organizations and faith-based groups are well positioned to initiate and coordinate activities to encourage healthy living and well being. Trusted leaders in communities and congregations can empower families and communities to make better choices to improve the health of our nation’s children."

Help Parents Make Healthy Choices
Parents and community members can model healthy decisions about physical activity and nutrition. But in today’s busy world, healthy choices aren’t always easy. Parents and caregivers need a community of support. Here are some ways faith-based and community organizations can provide that support.

Make Community Meals Healthier: At community or congregational meals or potlucks, provide healthy selections, like fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains. People may unknowingly eat larger amounts when presented with larger portions. Reduce portion sizes by eliminating buffet-style meals or simply using smaller plates.

Motivational Groups: Challenge members of your community or congregation to form a motivational group for parents and caregivers who want to learn more about healthier food shopping or improving eating habits.

Community Cookbook: Create a community or congregational cookbook that features healthy, locally grown food. Encourage all members to contribute their favorite healthy recipes or come up with a healthy twist on a classic dish.

Serve Healthy Drinks and Snacks: Switch from sugar-sweetened beverages to 100% juice in education, child care or after-school programs. Replace sugary drinks in vending machine with water, 100% fruit juice or low-fat or fat-free milk. Use the HealthierUS School Challenge Competitive Food Calculator to determine which packaged snack foods are lower in fat, sodium and added sugars.

Help Children get Physical Activity
Children need physical education, safe routes to walk and ride their bikes to school, and access to parks, playgrounds and community centers to get the 60 minutes of active play they need each day. Sports leagues, and dance and fitness programs that are exciting and challenging will keep children engaged. Community organizations can take steps to increase opportunities for kids to be physically active – in school and in their communities – and create opportunities for families to engage in physical activity together.

Ideas to Promote Physical Activity
There are many ways congregations and community organizations can help children get the daily physical activity they need. Here are some ideas to get started:

President’s Active Lifestyle Challenge: Help children take the President’s Active Lifestyle Challenge by hosting the challenge within your organization.

Support Community Sports: Support or start a community sports league, intramural sport, or physical activity club that is accessible to all community members – regardless of skill, ability, or financial resources. This is especially important in locations with few or no school-supported physical activity programs.

Safe Routes to Walk and Bike: Ensure that children have safe routes to walk and bike in your community.

Organize Active Events: Create a physical activity club in your congregation or community center. Organize a walk, dance, or bike-a-thon, 5K, field day, fun run, relay race, or come up with your own active event ideas.

Promote Recreational Facilities: Partner with local community centers and schools to promote the use of recreational facilities, gymnasiums, playing fields, and playgrounds.

Wilton already does a lot of this but it might give us some more ideas to think about.

And finally, another thought to leave you with for this week: "In the next 18 minutes that I take to do this speech, four Americans will be dead from the food that they eat." - Jamie Oliver, Ted Talk presentation Feb. 2010