HOW TO GET YOUR KIDS TO EAT BETTER

You have been asking us how we get kids to eat more vegetables and for the recipes your kids learn to make when they attend a program.   

Here is one of the recipes that we teach kids to make.  It is delicious and easy to make!  Best of all, it is a meatless recipe.  It is just one of the recipes featured in the first book from the Growing Healthy Kids project (NOURISH AND FLOURISH: Kid-Tested and Approved Tips and Recipes to Prevent Diabetes) which will be released next week.  Happy eating!

Veggie Sloppy Joes

Ingredients:

• � cup onions, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• � cup chopped green pepper
• 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 package Morningstar Farms Grillers Recipe Crumbles
• � teaspoon black pepper
• 1 can (8 oz) no-salt added tomato sauce
• 1 cup ketchup (without high fructose corn syrup)
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 8 whole grain hamburger buns

Directions:

SAUTE onions, garlic, and green pepper in oil in a 2 quart saucepan.

STIR in remaining ingredients (except the buns).

COOK over medium heat, until mixture starts to simmer, stirring occasionally.

REDUCE heat, cover, and simmer 10 minutes.

SERVE hot on hamburger buns.  Serves 8.  

Participant in a Growing Healthy Kids program  at Boys & Girls Club.

Two girls learning how to create a delicious new recipe.

IN GOOD HEALTH,

Nancy Heinrich

For more recipes and tips, go to www.growinghealthykids.me.  

Contest Winners: THE ART OF HEALTHY EATING FOR GROWING HEALTHY KIDS

THANK YOU to Boys and Girls Clubs of Indian River County!  A special thank you to the clubs� art directors for playing with us and helping us teach kids who can now teach others.  Our poster contest has been a blast to do together!  Our collaborationis unleashing the youth voice to improve the health � and lives - of America�s children. 

THE WINNERS of �The Art of Healthy Eating for Growing Healthy Kids� Poster Contest are:

Indian River County, Florida winners:

• Giselle Zamarripa, age 8, Fellsmere
• Lizbeth Jimenez, age 8, Fellsmere
• Amy Kenney, age 8, Vero Beach
• Rian Butler, age 9, Sebastian
• Esmeralda Rosales, age 9, Fellsmere
• Clara Grace Martin, age 9, Vero Beach
• Tamia Bermudez, age 10, Vero Beach
• Alexis Ann Taylor, age 11, Vero Beach
• Hannah Truex, age 14, Sebastian

U.S. winner: 

• Pramuditha Sithumini Madigapola, age 7, Northridge, California

THESE KIDS created designs which contest judges Christine Thomas and Judy Nash (both artists and educators) deemed creative, fun, and inspirational with serious messages for adults.  The power of youth and their voices to teach adults that kids want, need, and crave access to healthy foods is the message these kids are teaching.  

NOW it is up to us to listen.

Artist Lizbeth Jimenez from Fellsmere Boys and Girls Club
shows her design.

Nancy Heinrich teaches a lesson about healthy foods at the
Fellsmere Boys and Girls Club.

Look at the response to Nancy's question about favorite vegetables
at the Vero Beach Boys and Girls Club

Winner Rian Butler at the Sebastian Boys and Girls Club

SINCE HAVING FUN WITH A PURPOSE is key to our success, I want to tell you how much fun it has been to play with Boys and Girls Clubs members and staff on �The Art of Healthy Eating for Growing Healthy Kids� poster contest.  

A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU to Publix  (www.publix.com), The Fresh Market (www.TheFreshMarket.com), and Growing Healthy Kids for the prizes received by these inspiring kids.  

To your great health, 

Nancy Heinrich

Growing Healthy Kids - improving the health - and lives - of America's children, one child and one garden at a time.  To learn more about our education programs, go to www.growinghealthykids.me.

BONNIE PFIESTER FIGHTS OBESITY

Kudos to Bonnie Pfiester.  Her comments in her column in today�s Vero Beach Press Journal mirror what I talk about everyday with parents, business leaders, and children throughout the United States and beyond.  Fighting obesity must happen on all fronts.  We cannot afford to be complacent in this fight.  

As a reader of this blog you know that my focus is childhood obesity- stopping it, reversing it, and preventing it. One in three kids in America is overweight or obese.  Two in three adults are overweight or obese.  If America�s children are going to have any kind of chance to get to a healthy weight as kids and avoid the early onset of obesity-related diseases seen primarily in older adults (like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and joint disease), then America�s adults had better start confronting their own daily excuses as to why they don�t exercise and why they are still making lousy food choices.  

From a kid�s perspective, it�s a case of �monkey see, monkey do�.  I see it every day.  Kids are simply modelling the behavior they see in their parents, their teachers, their friends� parents, etc. 

I  agree 150% with what Bonnie said in today�s article about the five ways people can fight the obesity epidemic.  This is what you can do:

• Fight obesity in your home.
• Fight obesity in your workplace.
• Fight obesity in your child�s school.
• Fight obesity in your church and local organizations.
• Fight obesity in your close circles.

The really great thing is that Bonnie is doing more than just talking about fighting obesity.  She has drawn a line in the sand with an offer today that shows she is serious about fighting obesity.  She said that anyone who brings a copy of today�s Vero Beach Press Journal article into her Max Fitness Club (which she owns with husband, Steve) by August 1 will receive a free 30-day club membership.  

Bonnie, you are a wonderful role model for improving the health of America � and America�s children.   Thank you!!

Kids at a recent Growing Healthy Kids in the Kitchen event in Vero Beach.

Kids on the fitness trail at a recent Growing Healthy Kids event held in collaboration with Youth Guidance Mentoring & Activities Program.

Thank you,

Nancy Heinrich

Founder, Growing Healthy Kids, Inc.

• Growing Healthy Kids is a movement to improve the health � and lives � of America�s children by designing and delivering solutions to halt, reverse, and prevent childhood obesity.  For more information, go to www.growinghealthykids.meand www.growinghealthykids.blogspot.com.

HOW TO EAT HEALTHY: 3 TIPS FOR TEACHING KIDS TO CUT DOWN ON SUGAR

Make some healthy snacks for kids like I do.  Young's Produce Market.  

THIS WEEK I had the pleasure of speaking with a young boy and his dad at the end of their shopping visit to the eclectic Growing Healthy Kids Variety Store in Vero Beach, Florida.  The boy was 11 or 12 years old and appeared to be overweight.  I asked him what he was doing to stay active this summer.  He told me he was attending camp at The Skate Factory, a place my own son attended regularly when he was on the hockey team there. 

We talked about the daily exercise he was getting at The Skate Factory and how important exercise is for keeping kids healthy.  His dad silently nodded in agreement with me (out of his son�s line of vision, of course). 

I said to the boy, �You know it's important to cut down on the number of sodas you drink, right?�  I could tell by his answer that he probably drinks too much soda, as further evidenced by his dad's smile and comment:  �Yes, we�ve been reading the educational messages you have in your store.� 

�When you�re skating at summer camp, drink plenty of water!�  (The goal for children is at 5 to 8 cups of water every day.)   �Take some fresh fruit or veggies with you for a healthy snack instead of the juice boxes.�   I ended our quick educational session by asking the boy if he could help me by teaching other kids what he had just learned.  He smiled and said yes.  His dad seemed appreciative for having someone talk with his son in a positive way about how to avoid high sugar foods.  I got the clear message from this concerned dad that he was concerned about his son�s weight.   �Thank you for what you are doing here. We�ll be back!�

Here at 3 tips to help your kids eat less sugar:

1. Drink less soda, including diet soda. 
2. Drink 5-8 cups of water a day (adults need at least 8 cups a day).
3. Eat fruit or veggies instead of drinking fruit juice or fruit drinks. 

How will you help your kids eat and drink less sugar and get to a healthier weight?

Sincerely,

Nancy Heinrich

Founder, Growing Healthy Kids, Inc.

A nonprofit organization dedicated to halting, reversing, and preventing childhood obesity, one child and one garden at a time. 

To learn more about our education projects and how you can help, go to www.growinghealthykids.me. 

TEACHING KIDS (and parents) HOW TO EAT HEALTHY

True story.  This afternoon I volunteered to teach a class for a former coworker from Florida Department of Health.  She had asked me to do �my magic thing� in the kitchen as part of her grant program.  So I showed up with several bags of vegetables and the desire to empower kids for rest of their lives. 

At the appointed time, seven kids came into the kitchen from their summer program next door.  Then someone said to me, �There�s people here in the lobby for your cooking class, do you have room?�  Five more people.  Another twelve people a few minutes later.

Then I heard one of the adult summer program staff say to a teen boy nearby, �You can�t go in there, there�s not enough room.�  I heard the boy gently say, �But I want to go to the cooking class!�

STOP RIGHT THERE!  Who are we to deny a child a unique, fun opportunity to learn how to take responsibility for their own health?  I immediately stepped out of the kitchen, told the adult staff it was OK and asked the boy I�d love to have him attend.  Enough said.  LET THE MAGIC BEGIN!

Jump ahead 90 minutes to the end of the class when I asked the kids these questions:

�Which vegetable did you like best?�

�Was it easy to make?�

 �Do you think you can make this at home now?�

�Will you teach your parents to eat more vegetables as a result of attending this class?� 

Here is the recipe I made with the kids this afternoon.  It�s a simple, healthy twist on America�s favorite-PIZZA.  We used Thomas English Muffins (�Triple Health�) containing a whooping 6 grams of dietary fiber per muffin.  The kids (and their parents) learned about good carbs (dietary fiber, vegetables, beans, lentils, fruit) and bad carbs (refined sugar, soda).  They learned that dietary fiber is what fills you up.  They learned if you eat pizza from Papa Johns, Dominos, and Little Caesars you�re getting dough made from white flour with no fiber.  

Most of these kids have never been taught how to slice a green pepper or how easy it is to make your own pizza sauce.  They know now.  I also taught their parents that when you engage kids and teach them how to help in the kitchen, they are not afraid to try new foods, like green peppers.   I taught 2 boys how to cut up a green pepper �julienne� style and then everyone wanted to try it and loved it!  All of these kids had never been told that all the sodas and sweet teas they are drinking every day can cause them to not concentrate in school or cause them to get the same �touch of sugar� (diabetes) that some of their parents have.  Now they know, because while their dinner was baking, I taught them a lesson about how much hidden sugar is in what they drink everyday.  You had to be there to see the looks on the faces of the parents when I finished the sugar lesson.  POWERFUL!

It was a magical afternoon.  From the teen who wanted to be in the healthy cooking class to the mother who profusely thanked me 6 times afterwards to the little boy who had never tasted fresh blueberries before.  From the shy little girl who learned how to split whole grain muffins to the kids who took the flavor challenge and added a  dollop of pesto to their pizzas�THANK YOU FOR THE MAGIC!

And in case you are curious, here is the recipe we made this afternoon.  Now go make some magic with your own kids!

 GROWING HEALTHY KIDS:  Healthy Pizza

Ingredients:

• �        6 English muffins, split in half
• �        1 large can tomato paste (plus garlic powder, parsley flakes, and water)
• �        2 cups mozzarella cheese
• �        1/2 green pepper, thinly sliced
• �        � small onion, thinly sliced
• �        12 portobello mushrooms, thinly sliced
• �        1 small can sliced black olives
• �        Pesto (optional)

Directions:

• �        Split muffins in half.
• �        Place muffins on baking tray.
• �        Spread pizza sauce (or tomato sauce).
• �        Add toppings of your choice.
• �        Bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until done. 
• �        Serve with a chopped green salad or fresh fruit salad. 
• �        Serves 6.  Enjoy!

Choosing toppings for her healthy pizza

Nancy teaches a boy how to julienne a green pepper (with grandma's approval)

HOW MANY SPOONS OF SUGAR IN THAT SWEET TEA????

Thank you for helping us improve the health - and lives - of America's  children.

Nancy Heinrich

Mothers Day is a Great Day for Growing Healthy Kids: Spinach Frittatas

Happy Mothers Day!  

Did you ever stop to think about what your mother taught you about foods, cooking, and exercise?  What are your childhood memories?  I remember baking apricot pies with my mother for our family�s weekend  trips to Stinson Beach north of San Francisco.  I remember learning how to make stews filled with carrots, potatoes, and turnips in our family kitchen in California.  I remember making homemade ice-cream and sitting on the freezer, struggling to hand crank it right before an adult would deem it ready to eat.  I remember skateboarding to travel from my house to my best friends� houses.  I remember hiking in the Sierra Nevadas on snowshoes (now, that is a workout!)

Create some new family memories for Mothers Day.  Take your children to the Saturday Green Market today and buy locally grown veggies from the farmers who are also your neighbors.  Then teach your kids how to make a veggie frittata.  Buy some navel oranges and have fresh squeezed orange juice. Take a 30 minute walk together.

Last month, one little girl who attended one of our Growing Healthy Kids in the Kitchen programs told me, "My mother never lets me help in the kitchen.  She thinks I'm too young."  I told her what a great job she was doing.  She was smiling and having so much fun helping with each job she was asked to do by myself and several other volunteers that night.  Our children deserve to our respect and if we don't teach them how to enjoy, respect, and prepare foods that nournish their growing minds and bodies, then who will?

This Mothers Day, teach your children respect for real foods.  Create a new family favorite recipe together.  Below, is one of the recipes from the soon-to-be-released book from Growing Healthy Kids, Inc. to inspire you.  

Frittata with Spinach and Cheese

HEAT in a 9-inch nonstick skillet until hot:

• �        2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

ADD in this ingredient and stir until onion is soft, about 5 minutes:

• �        1 onion, finely chopped

ADD in these 2 ingredients and cook for about 2 minutes:

• �        1 cup spinach, finely chopped
• �        � cup sun-dried tomatoes, finely chopped  OR � cup grape tomatoes

MIX these 5 ingredients in a large bowl:

• �        8 large eggs
• �       � cup extra sharp cheese, grated or thinly sliced
• �        � cup freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese
• �        Sea salt
• �        Freshly ground black pepper

POUR egg mixture into the skillet and cook until bottom has set, about 5 minutes. 

HOLD a flat plate over the pan and invert frittata onto the plate, then slide it back into the pan.  (Note:  If you use an oven-proof pan, you can place frittata into oven at 350 degrees for 5 minutes after the bottom has cooked instead of flipping it.)

COOK until just set, about 5 minutes more, and serve hot.

Adapted from a recipe by Mario Batali.

Nancy Heinrich teaching at a recent GHK in the Kitchen program.

POSTER CONTEST FOR KIDS UNLEASHES THEIR VOICES

Dear America,

We want to hear from kids about how everyone can eat healthier foods at home, at school, and at work.  We believe that input from kids is key to solving the childhood obesity epidemic in America.  We need to hear kids' voices...their ideas for teaching adults...their ideas for teaching kids about eating real foods and avoiding foods that are bad for us.  We want to provide a platform for their thoughts about what healthy eating means to them and what they need to make it happen for themselves and their friends. 

We need some big solutions to solve a big problem.  Kids were never meant to be shopping in �plus size� stores and wearing XXXL sizes.  Kids are not supposed to be struggling to walk to school.  Kids are not supposed to be out of breath after 5 minutes in their once a week physical education class.  Kids are not supposed to be eating meals at school filled with white sugar and white flour.  

 

Now we need your help to get the word out to parents and kids.  Growing Healthy Kids has unleashed its 2012 Poster Contest to unleash the voice of America�s youth.   With the theme of �The Art of Healthy Eating for Growing Healthy Kids�, kids ages 5 to 25 are invited to create their impression of the theme on an 8-1/2 x 11 inch piece of white paper.  The only rule in this poster contest is that these 9 words (The Art of Healthy Eating for Growing Healthy Kids) must appear on the poster, either as the title or somewhere on the poster.  Anything goes:  pencil, watercolor, mosaics, murals, pen, chalk, paint, photographs, etc. 

What does "The Art of Healthy Eating for Growing Healthy Kids" look like to you?  We are excited to find out! 

On the back of the poster include: parent name, phone, and email (if available), child�s name, age, school name, city and state.   Mail poster to: Growing Healthy Kids Variety Store, 3300 43^rd Avenue, #4, Vero Beach, FL. 32960 by May 25, 2012.  All entries become property of Growing Healthy Kids, Inc.  Winners will be notified by June 30, 2012. 

Over the past 2 weeks The Art of Healthy Eating for Growing Healthy Kids poster contest was launched in collaboration with Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County.  The children at the Fellsmere, Sebastian, and Vero Beach clubs were inspired with a challenge from Nancy Heinrich, founder of the Growing Healthy Kids movement.  The challenge was to create centerpieces for a dinner table using fresh fruits, vegetables, and dried beans.  This challenge was to motivate them to make healthy eating a central part of the family dinner table by giving it a real focal point.  It also reinforced recent research findings that when children sit down and eat dinner with their families, they maintain healthier weights.

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Photo taken at Sebastian Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County, Florida at poster contest launch.

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Let�s use the power of America�s youth and commit to be fit.  Growing Healthy Kids is committed to halting, reversing, and preventing obesity and obesity-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and bone and joint disorders.  We are a non-profit organization based in Vero Beach, Florida providing leadership to solve public health problems.