Vickie L. James RD LD - HKC Director's blog

New School Lunch Rules: It’s a Win-Win Not a War 

11 Healthy Quinoa Recipes for Kids
 

3 Ways to Tap Into Water Every Day
 

“A great learning experience and so much fun that the kids can make a bracelet as well!”
 

Families Connect Nutrition and Activity at the Disney World Marathon Expo

Connecting healthy eating and fun physical activity helps create appeal for healthy choices. Through a Healthy Kids Challenge - CIGNA partnership, this weekend kids and families will make the connection! At the fun-filled Disney World Marathon Expo they will Explore MyPlate, learn fun nutrition facts, receive helpful “can do” tips, and “move” with a fun game they can do at home. Come follow the fun this Friday and Saturday in Orlando or on Twitter and Facebook

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MyPlate Teaching Resources for Healthy Holiday Fun

Sneak in some light-hearted and fun nutrition education for kids during the holdiays with free MyPlate teaching resources on the web! At Healthy Kids Challenge, we know that kids learn best when healthy eating information is fun and hands-on. Use these resource links with kids during holiday free-time to keep the "healthy balance" message in the forefront of their minds.

USDA MyPlate
For Kids 6-11 (http://www.choosemyplate.gov/kids/index.html) - "Blast Off" Interactive online game and downloadable  posters, coloring pages and worksheets

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Ho Ho Ho...to Healthier Holiday Gatherings

If I had to choose my favorite Healthy Kids Challenge message regarding healthier holiday eating, it would be Smart Servings. Smart Servings allows you and your family to enjoy those special holiday foods and teaches “moderate eating” that goes beyond just the holidays. Try these ideas:

• Visualize Your Plate – Think ahead about what a healthy meal plate looks like. Use the MyPlate icon and food groups to guide your choices.
• Scan and Plan – Scan the food options and make a plan to include your favorites while keeping health in mind, such as fruits and veggies. You don’t have to try every food served!

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Pizza, Vegetables, and a Side of Healthy Balance

Despite what the media headlines may lead you to believe, Congress has not declared pizza a vegetable. The bottom line is the tomato paste on the pizza still counts as a vegetable serving according to federal regulations for school lunch programs. (If you want more explanation than that, read this article from the LA Times: ‘Pizza vegetable’ controversy is hot potato.)

But, honestly, the real bottom line? We all need to find some healthy balance when it comes to nutrition for kids. Childhood obesity did not start overnight, and it won’t get fixed overnight either. Don’t get caught up in the blame game. The true solution to this epidemic is that many solutions are needed, which must mesh into a new culture of health for all of us.

Congrats to My Healthy Challenge Winners!

Thanks and congrats to these 3 Healthy Kids Challenge fans who make healthy living a habit! They not only take personal wellness seriously, they also help kids learn to make healthy choices every day. Check out their stories, and consider sending us yours!

Emily Encourages Eating Fruits & Veggies the FUN Way

“We incorporate a lot of fruits and vegetables into smoothies. My kids eat one every day that usually has 3-5 different fruits and veggies. We also like to do stir-fry or roasted veggies with 3-5 different veggies mixed in so there is something each child likes, plus something new to try. We also love to add fruits and vegetables to ice pops! One of our favorite recipes includes a peeled zucchini, a peeled cucumber, cut up pineapple and fresh lemon juice. You don’t even taste the veggies and they are super refreshing on a hot day!” – Emily Barker, Idaho

Lisa’s Library Activities Include Health

“For the first three story times during June, we served cookies and juice. For the last one, we offered oranges and Sun Chips and they were very popular! One mother specifically thanked us for having healthy snacks. She said her kids don’t like sweets. As part of story times, we used plastic fruit and vegetables for a word game with the puppet play “I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly"...

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Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Preschool Activity Ideas

In honor of the 2011 Kansas Reads to Preschoolers Week, we want to share some ideas for the book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. At Healthy Kids Challenge we have a special connection to librarians through a generous grant project titled, “Reading-Smart Eating-Moving...Balance My Day”. It helped us reach Kansas kids with healthy messages, through their very enthusiastic, creative librarians. Now we have these ideas to share with you!

1. Coconut Bowl Activity Idea

• Items Needed: fake plastic coconuts, toy bowling pins or empty plastic bottles, cut out letters, masking tape
• Children can go bowling in your room! Tape random letters to the pins/bottles and set them up like a bowling alley in a room with a hard floor. Tape a line a few feet from the pins for children to stand behind. Let them roll the coconuts toward the pins to see how many they can knock over. Let them name the letters that they knocked down...

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