Associated Press Medical Writer Lauran Neergaard has a very ineresting article about obesity in children who are in America's daycare systems, and what some of these daycares are and are not doing about the issue. Many daycare facilities are finally sacrificing quantity for quality when it cimes to the food thsat they are feeding our children. Instead of feeding them Chicken nuggets and sugar sweetened juices, they are moving to a more healthy alternative such as grilled chicken and 1% or lowfat milk. Instead of eating cookies for dessert, they are eating fruits such as strawberries or apples. These small changes may be a bit more expensive, but in the long run they are a much better choice. The point of feeding our children this healthy food early is to build a strong foundation of a healthy diet while they are young so that they can keep healthy as they grow and maintain this diet when they are old.
Some daycares are also going as far as to not only have a prolonged recess period, but to actually have a structured recess period of 60 minuites, and a non structured free play time of 60 minuites as well. This would result in the children having much more time to be outside having fun and learning to enjoy school and build strong social bonds with others, as well as more than meet their daily requirements for exercise.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I think it's awesome how involved our society is in child obesity. The past decade child obesity has been increasing at a fast pace. With the advance in technology kids will sit inside all day long playing video games or watching TV. They are also not educated enough yet to know what certain unhealthy foods are doing to them. Kids would eat ice cream and cookies for dinner if they had the choice. Most parents are smart enough to give them healthier foods but some don't know what it's doing. I think recess is important now days, schools should even organize a game of soccer or tag to encourage kids to be more active. On top of that, gym class should be taken more seriously. Good topic!
ReplyDelete