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