Keeping Active in the Cold: Indoor Exercise Ideas For Kids

By Mary Nicholson Well, the holidays are over and winter has set in – now what?  Thoughts of hibernation cross my mind as an ideal option, but not a very realistic one (I can dream, can’t I?).  However, because we live in the 21st century, staying active, even during the winter months, is more important [...]

September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

By DeDe Hausman In 2010 the American College of Sports Medicine, along with other prominent health-organizations, including the NAACP, the American Society for Nutrition, the Cleveland Clinic, and HealthCorps, began waging a battle against childhood obesity by declaring September as NATIONAL CHILDHOOD OBESITY AWARENESS MONTH.  And to add more credence to that, on September 1, [...]

Fuel Up To Play 60!

By Cassie Brooks, FUTP60 Program Advisor at Brownsburg West Middle School On July 14, Greg More and I traveled to Washington, D.C. for the Fuel Up to Play 60 Student Ambassador Leadership Training Summit.  We were both filled with excitement about growing our knowledge and skills for the program, and also to meet people from [...]

Make Your Child Obesity-Proof!

Guest Post By Paula Gustafson, MD We have all heard the alarming news about childhood obesity: almost one in five of our school-aged children and teens are obese.  Even more are overweight. But did you know that this obesity epidemic affects our infants and toddlers too! I’m a board-certified pediatrician at Major Pediatrics in Shelbyville, [...]

Summer Time Boredom Busters

Now that school is out it is important to keep kids moving, especially with increasing childhood obesity rates. The CDC reported 17% of children and adolescents aged 2-19 years are obese. Physical Activity produces overall physical, psychological and social benefits. Inactive children are likely to become inactive adults and physical activity helps with controlling weight, reducing blood pressure, raising HDL (the good cholesterol), reducing the risk of diabetes and some kinds of cancer, and improved psychological well-being, including gaining more self-confidence and higher self-esteem.

Fuel Up to Play 60

By Diane Ruyack Nicholson Elementary School has been participating in NFL’s and National Dairy Council’s Fuel Up to Play 60 (FUTP 60) program all school year.  The students have had challenges built around the Colts’ football season and Indiana basketball’s “March Madness.”  The goal of the FUTP 60 partnership is to encourage children to be physically [...]

Fuel Up to Play 60 Update

By Mary Nicholson Approximately seventy-five Fuel Up to Play 60 Program Advisors and their guests braved the crazy Indiana spring storms to attend a training camp at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center on Tuesday, April 19th.  Despite the unpredictable weather outside, a calmer atmosphere (for the most part) awaited guests inside the Pavilion. While [...]

Fuel Up To Play 60 Builds Awareness

By Mary Nicholson “We’ve had such wonderful experiences using the funds from the FUTP 60 grant.  Our chocolate milk booth was a huge success, our walking/jogging club is moving right along and so much more” says Roberta Sipe, P. E. teacher at Rosa Parks Edison Elementary in Perry Township and advisor for the National Dairy [...]

Registered Dietitian Day – Bringing Food and Nutrition Expertise to the Table

‘My’ day is finally here! – Registered Dietitian Day (and yes, I am a Registered Dietitian). March 9, 2011 is the fourth annual Registered Dietitian Day. As the nation’s food and nutrition experts, registered dietitians are committed to improving the health of their patients and community. Registered Dietitian Day commemorates the dedication of Registered Dietitians (RDs) as advocates for advancing the nutritional status of Americans and people around the world.

Help Your Kids Eat Right with Color for National Nutrition Month

March is National Nutrition Month! The theme this year is to “Eat Right with Color.” What a great way to convey getting all the foods you need – color your plate with nutrient rich foods! The 2010 Dietary Guidelines focused on children and preventing obesity. When it comes to food and nutrition, even the most knowledgeable parents can use help making sure their children are eating healthy meals. I encourage parents to take time to make sure their children are getting all of the nutrients they need to grow and thrive.