Obesity. Always a hot topic. But in the past year, more and more people seem to be getting involved and hoping to make a difference. Consider First Lady Michelle Obama’s new “Let’s Move!” Initiative, as well as celebrity chef Jamie Oliver’s TV show “Food Revolution.” The government and media alike are doing all they can to draw attention to the mediocre lunches being served in modern schools. I think the “revolution” is a fantastic idea and very much needed to prevent our population from reaching even higher levels of obesity.In a country as big as ours, it’s hard to establish a consistent norm at the grassroots level, and truthfully, the only way children will learn healthy habits is from their families and their community. As any parent or teacher knows, its even harder to get kids to eat anything that looks remotely healthy. My mother has to put a little sugar on spinach in order for my 7-year-old sister to even pick up the fork. It’s a stress in any location, but the trick is to teach these habits early on so it doesn’t become such a battle in the future.School lunches typically consist of frozen hamburgers, pizzas, and deli sandwiches. Cafeteria cookies are almost always a hit and chocolate milk was a staple. Tight budgets called for these quick, readily made meals and only now are we seeing the effects; between high calorie intake and limited time spent participating in physical activity, school lunches have allowed for the steady increase in obesity. As Let’s Move notes, we have to combat obesity with a double edged sword. Schools need to provide suitable meals and increase physical education emphasis, and perhaps place more emphasis on nutrition in Health classes, which normally just teach Sex Ed.It’s not impossible to change school menus, it just takes a bit of trial and error, as we’ve seen with Revolution Foods, a company which visits school districts to make nutritious and appetizing school lunches. Seems kids will eat anything with a side of ranch dressing or if the color is just right. Further, Let’s Move will help provide schools with resources to make the necessary changes. Sample wellness plans, menus, and programs are available now. Local education administrators are not alone.Now that summer is here, take the time to take your kids to the local farmer’s market to show them all kinds of local produce and spend some time outside, riding a bike, going for a walk, or playing frisbee. If your family does any other kind of regular physical activity together, please feel free to share it with us.For more information on Let’s Move!, please visit: www.letsmove.gov
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