The American Heart Association is working to help kids and families live heart-healthy lives. During the reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act and implementation, efforts have focused on providing greater access to nutritious meals and removing junk food and sugary beverages from vending machines in schools.
As part of this week’s Healthy School Lunch Week, here are a few ways we are working to reduce childhood obesity. Click on the links to learn more about each.
Healthy Way to Grow – With inaugural funding provided by The William G. McGowan Charitable Fund, the American Heart Association and Nemours are launching Healthy Way to Grow, a technical assistance program, for child care centers across the country aimed at decreasing obesity among children ages birth to five years old. The program provides direct, hands-on assistance, customized training, resources and tools to support healthy lifestyles in child care environments.
NFL PLAY 60 Challenge - The AHA has teamed up with the NFL’s PLAY 60 campaign to create the NFL PLAY 60 Challenge to inspire middle school students to be more physically active and to help schools become places that encourage active lifestyles year-round.
Advocating for Children’s Health - The AHA supports numerous policy issues related to children’s health including efforts to improve quality physical education and school nutrition through state and federal legislation.
- improving the nutritional quality of snack foods and beverages in schools;
- reducing consumption of sugary beverages;
- protecting children from unhealthy food and beverage marketing;
- increasing access to affordable healthy foods;
- increasing access to parks, playgrounds, walking paths, bike lanes and other opportunities to be physically active; and
- helping youth-serving programs increase children's physical activity levels.
Whether or not you have school aged children, you can join the Healthy Lunch celebration:
- Pledge to have a healthy lunch this week.
- Learn more about healthy policies by visiting our action center.
- Help spread the word by sharing information on your social networks. By joining our voices, we can bring greater change!
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