Getting Kids Interested In Getting Kids Interested In Eating Healthy Eating Healthy
Founding Executive DirectorFounding Executive Director
Action for Healthy KidsAction for Healthy Kids
Alicia Moag-Stahlberg, MS, RDAlicia Moag-Stahlberg, MS, RD
-100
0
100
Fruits Vegetables Grains Meats &Beans
MilkPercent change
Females 9-13 Males 9-13
Increases
Current Intake
Decreases
*Consumption data from NHANES 2001-2002
What Kids Are What Kids Are NotNot Eating Eating
Kids’ environmentKids’ environment
Bombarded by ads for foodBombarded by ads for food
Communicate more w friends than adultsCommunicate more w friends than adults
Have money to spend and spend it on Have money to spend and spend it on food/drinksfood/drinks
Easy access to fast foods, pop, candy, Easy access to fast foods, pop, candy, chips (hard to get healthful options)chips (hard to get healthful options)
Making meal decisions for self and familyMaking meal decisions for self and family
Less (or none) experience cookingLess (or none) experience cooking
Low nutrition savvy Low nutrition savvy
Information SourcesInformation Sources
Mass mediaMass media
The StreetThe Street
Family Family
School School
Health careHealth care
55
Students’ RealitiesStudents’ Realities
HungryHungry
MalnourishedMalnourished
TiredTired
StressedStressed
BulliedBullied
Sedentary, unfitSedentary, unfit
Overweight, obeseOverweight, obese
AbusedAbused
Depressed or other mental Depressed or other mental
health issueshealth issues
Learning/emotional Learning/emotional
disabilitiesdisabilities
Chronic illnesses – asthma, Chronic illnesses – asthma,
diabetes, heart diseasediabetes, heart disease
Using alcohol or other Using alcohol or other
drugs drugs
Issues at homeIssues at home
What is most important?What is most important?
Avoiding sexually transmitted diseaseAvoiding sexually transmitted disease
Getting good gradesGetting good grades
Avoiding drugs, alcoholAvoiding drugs, alcohol
Spending time w friendsSpending time w friends
Spending time w familySpending time w family
Getting enough exerciseGetting enough exercise
Getting enough sleep, managing stressGetting enough sleep, managing stress
Eating healthyEating healthy
Body Size and SatisfactionBody Size and Satisfaction
More girls describe themselves as More girls describe themselves as overweight than boysoverweight than boys
More (50%) older kids (ages 13-18) than More (50%) older kids (ages 13-18) than (40%) younger kids (10-12) describe (40%) younger kids (10-12) describe themselves as overweightthemselves as overweight
More girls (54%) than boys (36%) thought More girls (54%) than boys (36%) thought they should lose a “little” or lose a “lot” of they should lose a “little” or lose a “lot” of weightweight
More kids are trying weight loss More kids are trying weight loss products/dietsproducts/diets
Eating HealthyEating HealthyDo students’ care?Do students’ care?
Youth understand the importance of Youth understand the importance of healthful eatinghealthful eating Understood the value of eating healthy foods Understood the value of eating healthy foods
and how that can positively impact a person’s and how that can positively impact a person’s health.health.
Healthy foods help people to live healthy lives Healthy foods help people to live healthy lives and avoid ailments such as obesity, diabetes and avoid ailments such as obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure.and high blood pressure.
Eating HealthyEating Healthy
Youth said that they eat healthier outside Youth said that they eat healthier outside school than inside school.school than inside school.
Youth feel that messages emphasizing the Youth feel that messages emphasizing the consequences of not eating healthy foods consequences of not eating healthy foods would be more effective in changing would be more effective in changing behavior than promoting the positive effects behavior than promoting the positive effects of healthy food choices.of healthy food choices.
Youth want advice from doctors and fitness Youth want advice from doctors and fitness professionals about improving their health professionals about improving their health and wellness.and wellness.
Barriers to Eating HealthyBarriers to Eating Healthy
Foods at school do not taste/look goodFoods at school do not taste/look good
I like fast food/junk foodI like fast food/junk food
I’m young, does not matterI’m young, does not matter
Parents, elders not eating healthyParents, elders not eating healthy
Not important…why should I?Not important…why should I?
What motivates kids ?What motivates kids ?
Access to tasty, appealing healthful foodsAccess to tasty, appealing healthful foods
Encouragement !!!!Encouragement !!!!
Discussing, talking, arguing about healthy Discussing, talking, arguing about healthy eatingeating
Having a reason, why bother – improved Having a reason, why bother – improved fitness and feeling better , positive affect fitness and feeling better , positive affect on learning/achievement, physical on learning/achievement, physical appearance (approach topic carefully)appearance (approach topic carefully)
Knowing what to doKnowing what to do
Incorporating NutritionIncorporating Nutrition
Time and formatTime and format
Number of students Number of students
Multiple lessons or one Multiple lessons or one
Out of class assignmentsOut of class assignments
Credible and relevant Credible and relevant
Relevant TopicsRelevant Topics
What is healthy and what is not?What is healthy and what is not?
Selecting healthy choices at gas Selecting healthy choices at gas station/convenience store.station/convenience store.
Why we eat - replacement activities.Why we eat - replacement activities.
Eating on the fly - what matters most? Eating on the fly - what matters most?
How much money spent on food? How much money spent on food?
Making a simple mealMaking a simple meal
Eating for healthy weight Eating for healthy weight
IdeasIdeas
Basics still necessary Basics still necessary What foods kids need to eat more ofWhat foods kids need to eat more of How to balance food and activityHow to balance food and activity
What are you really paying for?What are you really paying for? Ads, packaging, claims, location, gimmicksAds, packaging, claims, location, gimmicks How much do you spend on food each week?How much do you spend on food each week? Amount saved if you made the foodAmount saved if you made the food
Portion ControlPortion Control
MEDIUM LARGE SUPER-SIZE
Sugar and FatSugar and Fat
How much sugar do you eat each day?How much sugar do you eat each day? Collect wrappers of what you eat for one dayCollect wrappers of what you eat for one day Calculate 4 grams = 1 tsp sugar = 16 calories Calculate 4 grams = 1 tsp sugar = 16 calories Little to none nutrients in high sugar, high calLittle to none nutrients in high sugar, high cal
Fat weighs more and does not fill you up Fat weighs more and does not fill you up moremore Calculate 5 grams = 1 tsp = 45 caloriesCalculate 5 grams = 1 tsp = 45 calories Food density important for hunger – not just Food density important for hunger – not just
calories – soups, vegetables, high fibercalories – soups, vegetables, high fiber
Game On! The Ultimate Game On! The Ultimate Wellness ChallengeWellness Challenge