Destination Healthy Kids--Choosing Appropriate Fuels and

Routes

Elaine Long BaileyExtension Educator

4-H Youth DevelopmentUniversity of Maryland Extension

Calvert County

What is “HEALTHY?”

• Take an index card • Write words to describe what

“healthy” means • Find two people in this room

who have on the same color shirt as you

• Join those people and get in a group

Now, Let’s Discuss . . .• What were the words?• Are they positive or

negative?• Why?

Statistically Speaking . . .

• Approximately 16% of MD’s youth age 6-19 are overweight (CDC data)

• First generation in history to have LOWER life span predictions than parents (CDC data)

It has been estimated that if allphysically inactive Americansbecame active, approximately$77 billion in annual medicalcosts would be saved.—Pratt, The Physician andSports Medicine, 2000.

Two Answers

• Get kids ACTIVE!– Games

– Sports

– TV???

– Video games???

– Computer???

• Limit sedentary activity

• Teach kids to EAT HEALTHY– Food choices

– Snack choices

– FRESH fruit

– FRESH vegetables

• HOW???

The Fuel

• FOOD• Are there “bad foods?”• Bad ingredients?• Let’s look at BETTER

foods, ingredients, choices

What “Fuels” Are in Foods?

Nutrients!!ProteinCarbohydratesFatsVitaminsMineralsWater

Why are the NUTRIENTS important?

Nutrient Some Important Functions

• MUSCLE + Immune System

• ENERGY

• ENERGY + Regulators

• EYESIGHT + Regulators

• BONES + Muscle contraction

• HYDRATION + Insulation

ProteinCarbohydratesFatsVitaminsMineralsWater

READING LABELS

http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/toolkit/worksheets/foodlabel.htm

My Plate

Nutrition Hints

• Check CALORIES & SERVINGS

• Make your calories count!

– NOT just EMPTY CALORIES

– Other nutrients in foods . . . Vitamins & minerals

– Fiber is our friend

• Watch sugar consumption (sucrose, fructose, glucose . . . )

• FATS: TRANS and SATURATED (POLY)UNSATURATED

• Ingredients lists . . .

The CELEBRATION Challenge

Birthday Thanksgiving

The Machine: Human Body

• Use it or lose it• Build flexibility*• Stretch• Aerobic exercise

– Cardiac benefit

– Stamina

• Strength training

Activity Challenge

One hour/day: youthAdults: 30 minutes/D 5D/weekGroup vs. individualTeam building vs. independence and responsibility

The Magic of Gardening

• Grow It Eat It—UME Initiative

• Salad boxes and Salad tables

• Construct salad boxes• Select seeds• Plant seeds• Care for growing plants

A Scavenger Hunt in the Yard . . .

It’s About INPUT (Food) vs. OUTPUT (Activity)

• Limit sweets• Watch saturated fats• Monitor sodium intake• Rock the vitamins and

minerals• Milk the calcium• ENCOURAGE trying

new foods• MOVE

Questions?

• My email is elbailey@umd.edu

• THANKS!