Most kids don't want to have anything to do with spinach, but at the Young Chefs Academy Camp in Sandy Springs the kids make baked ziti with spinach instead of meat.
It’s part of the healthy focus at the week-long camps.
“We teach them how to have a well-balanced meal with some proteins, some fruits and vegetables, some fruits and grains,” said Jennifer Fox, owner, Young Chefs Academy in Sandy Springs.
Fox says a few parents chose the program because they are currently in weight loss programs and hope their children to also learn healthy eating habits.
“They really want their kids to get in the scheme of things of proper eating. And, they don't know how break the cycle at home, so they're bringing their kids here for a few classes,” said Fox.
In Rutledge, Georgia, Camp Kudzu is currently underway. It only takes children with type-one diabetes. But, organizers hope to eventually expand to children with type-two diabetes, which is often the result of obesity.
“We used to think just adults get it, but actually kids are getting type-two also and they need to know being active and eating well,” Kate Silvis, Registered Dietitian, who is volunteering at camp kudzu this summer
The American Camp Association says most camps promote healthy lifestyles.
“When children learn healthy habits at camp, they bring these behaviors home—good nutrition and exercise,” explains literature from the ACA.
For more information, go to
http://www.campParents.org/healthyeating.php.
To learn more about Young Chefs Academy, check
http://www.youngchefsacademy.com.
Find Camp Kudzu information at
http://www.campkudzu.org.
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