WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS
When I hear a parent say, “I can’t afford to feed my kids
healthy foods,” my response is, “Spent an hour shopping and cooking with
me.” Due to the increase in situational
poverty, where people are losing their jobs and being forced onto food stamps
and their kids onto free and reduced school meal programs, more and more kids are eating cheap
calories and processed food. Pop tarts
and honey buns are what I call "weak foods" that are wreaking havoc on the health of
America’s children. The result of eating
processed food such as pop tarts and $1 McDonalds menu items is that children are living sicker and
dying younger. Hunger and obesity are
directly related. We are not supposed to be diagnosing type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure in 12 year olds, but it is happening. Just ask your pediatrician.
To raise awareness about eating healthy foods, one of Growing Healthy Kids' core education programs is our GIANT SALAD PARTY.
Yesterday the party was at the Fellsmere location of Indian River County
Boys and Girls Clubs. After meeting Ms. Keisha Rainey last year during The Art of Healthy Eating
for Growing Healthy Kids poster contest, she invited us to throw
a GIANT SALAD PARTY for some of the child she and other staff provide afterschool
services to. The typical snack given to
these children is free food from the local school district. The free food consists of processed foods
high in white sugars and white flours. Staff has said the club cannot afford to provide healthy snacks, such as fresh
fruit and veggies. I hold a different
opinion. I believe they can afford to provide healthy snacks for the children - it just hasn't been their priority...yet.
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| YUM!! |
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| Ms. Keisha Rainey (in orange shirt) and Ms. Mayra (on the left) served the children a delicious afterschool snack! |
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| Our young chefs for the day loved learning how to make the simple vinaigrette dressing! |
At yesterday’s GIANT SALAD PARTY, the kids loved the food, especially some of their favorite items: chopped apples, whole grain pasta (I used the
Dreamfields brand), and sunflower seeds.
It was a wonderful scene to see 24 beautiful 6 year olds all eating
fruit and veggies for their afterschool snack.
In addition to learning some basic kitchen skills, the children learned
to make a simple vinaigrette dressing.
They are now empowered to be catalysts for starting new family
traditions with their own salad parties.
I can just hear it now, all across America: “Mom, please don’t buy those pop tarts. I’ll make a simple vinaigrette dressing and
we can have a salad party instead!” We
can all learn the same lessons that the 6 year olds learned yesterday: to be smart, healthy, and strong, you need to
eat rainbows and other healthy foods.
Here is the recipe for you to try with your own family:
GROWING
HEALTHY KIDS: Simple Vinaigrette
(French
Dressing)
MIX
together in a bowl:
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar or balsamic vinegar (the kids used apple cider vinegar)
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon dry mustard or 1 teaspoon prepared Dijon mustard
- sea salt
- fresh ground pepper
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
If you live in the Vero
Beach area, please join me the evening of April 25 for A Place at the
Table at The Majestic Theatre, followed by a community discussion. This film is by the same producers
of Food, Inc. To see a preview of the movie, click here: http://www.magpictures.com/aplaceatthetable/.
Be part of the solution. Help us ensure that all kids (and parents)
have access to healthy food.
A special thank you to Kevin O'Dare of Osceola Organic Farm for providing the fresh salad greens, tomatoes, and green peppers for yesterday's party!
In gratitude,
Nancy Heinrich
Founder, Growing Healthy Kids
