JLWOH Announces Childhood Obesity & Nutrition Initiative
Written by Westchester.com
Wednesday, 12 April 2006
Tarrytown, NY - On Saturday, April 29th, from 10 AM - 2 PM, the Junior League of Westchester-on-Hudson will host Junior Leagues' Kids in the Kitchen at the Sleepy Hollow H.S. Gymnasium as part of their international childhood obesity and nutrition education initiative.
Children K-6 and their families are invited to participate.
Health, Exercise & Nutrition information will be provided in a lively format that will include demonstrations by 3 award winning chefs, (scheduled are: Robert Randolph, private chef and major-domo; Philip McGrath, owner and chef of Iron Horse Restaurant in Pleasantville; Albert DeAngelis, Executive Chef for Terra, Mediterraneo, Sole and Aqua Restaurants in Connecticut and Aurora in Rye) 2 nutritionists, and a Tai Kwan Tao master. The event will feature fun athletic activities facilitated by the Family YMCA at Tarrytown, an instructional snack making exercise, and child friendly yoga and dance. A nurse from Phelps Memorial Hospital will be on hand to take blood pressure. Free Kids in the Kitchen t-shirts will be awarded to the first 300 participants.
The Junior Leagues' Kids in the Kitchen initiative is in response to the alarming statistic that nearly one-third of all American children and adolescents are overweight or at the risk of becoming overweight and that childhood obesity has been shown to be the leading cause of many health issues including Pediatric Hypertension, Type II Diabetes and Coronary Heart Disease.
Within the last 30 years, in New York State alone, obesity has tripled for children & adolescents, costing New Yorkers an estimated $6 billion annually. Obesity in children physically limits their activities and has been linked to orthopedic problems, cancer, asthma, sleep apnea, and depression. Overweight and obese children are 17% more likely to become overweight and obese adults. Obesity is linked to 112,000 deaths per year.
This is an issue that transcends borders and touches all communities without discrimination. It is an issue where a direct impact can be made by engaging in educational activities. The JLWOH believes that education on a community level is the first step toward raising the awareness necessary to reverse America's growing obesity epidemic and its associated health risks. Time has proven that changes in behavior are population driven and community based. Over 225 Junior Leagues in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the U.S. are participating in the Junior Leagues' Kids in the Kitchen initiative to address childhood obesity.
The Junior League has been committed to improving the lives of children for 105 years. This new initiative is an extension of the JL's dedication to healthy living. The JL aims to provide children and their families with the tools they need to make nutritious eating choices and believes that the education of our children is the first step to making a lasting change in the reversal of current childhood obesity statistics. An interactive website will be launched mid-March at
http://kidsinthekitchen.ajli.org for child friendly nutritious recipes and tips of the day as well as polls to test children's nutrition knowledge. Recipes can be printed out and pasted on index cards to share with friends.
The JLWOH counts among its Kids in the Kitchen community partners: the Tarrytown Union Free Schools, the Family YMCA at Tarrytown, K12 Alerts®, Open Door Medical Centers, PBS KIDS SPROUT & Comcast, RSHM Life Center, Phelps Memorial Hospital and the Rotary Club of the Tarrytowns.
The Junior League of Westchester-on-Hudson is an organization of service-minded women committed to voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.
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