This March is Nutrition Month in Canada and it is the theme of our March General Meeting. Led by Dietitians of Canada, this annual campaign meshes well with our own Issue Area of Healthy and Active Living and The Association of Junior Leagues International’s league-wide Kids in the Kitchen (KITK) initiative.
Healthy eating is an essential part of a child’s normal growth and development. In Canada, rates of obesity among children and youth ages 2 to 17 has tripled over the last 25 years. In 1979, 3% of children and youth were obese. By 2004, 8% were obese. This number continues to climb, and Statistics Canada says that an additional 18% of Canadian children and youth are currently overweight.
While many factors impact this ever-increasing obesity of our children, healthy, nutritious eating and healthy food behaviours, including age-appropriate cooking and shopping skills, are vitally important in combating this trend and in reducing the risk of future chronic diseases such as diabetes and premature hardening of the arteries.
In this regard, KITK forms the foundation for our MUM (Moms U Matter) program at Highbanks Society, there is a KITK component in our Treasure Trunk Program at Brenda’s House and we will proudly be putting on our 6th annual KITK program this spring!
This year’s Nutrition Month theme is "Celebrate food…from field to table!" In keeping with this theme, and our own Healthy and Active Living focus, please be encouraged to make choosing healthy and nutritious food, whether from a farmers’ market or the grocery store, a part of your and your children’s daily life.
Alice Gardner-Boreta
President, Junior League of Calgary
Reprinted from President's Message in Feb Lasso
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