| |
Giant Eagle and Dietetic Association to Pilot Energy Balance for Kids
Giant Eagle, the region’s leading multi-format food and fuel retailer, will work with the American Dietetic Association Foundation to create and pilot Energy Balance For Kids, a sustainable program to support families, schools and communities in their pursuit of quality nutrition for all children. This pilot utilizes Giant Eagle registered dietitians to deliver nutrition education in schools in the Plum School District.
In conjunction with National Nutrition Month, the program will be introduced March 29 with grades 2 through 4 in Regency Park Elementary School and Pivik Elementary School both in the Plum School District.
Energy Balance for Kids is part of ADA and ADAF’s Kids Eat Right campaign, a national initiative to mobilize and empower registered dietitians as leaders in optimizing the nutritional health of kids and their families. The State of Family Nutrition and Physical Activity Report, which includes the results of the ADA Foundation’s 2010 Family Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey, provides a foundation for this campaign.
“Over the past decade, the American Dietetic Association and its Foundation have committed resources toward efforts to treat, reduce and prevent childhood overweight and obesity,” said Giant Eagle food and nutrition advisor and registered dietitian Judy Dodd. “With this newest partnership, we hope to advance the implementation of a truly sustainable program that facilitates interactions with area students on an ongoing basis.”
Energy Balance For Kids, or EB4K, is designed to promote healthy eating and prevent childhood obesity by enlisting trained registered dietitians in community schools to work with classroom teachers, physical education instructors, food service directors and families on a daily basis to implement a national curriculum of nutrition and healthy activity.
“Along with ADA, we will assess, recalibrate and redouble our efforts to address children’s total nutrient needs and healthy weights,” said Dodd. “EB4K recognizes the powerful role that registered dietitians can play in this effort.”
Dodd said that with a unique blend of skill and knowledge, registered dietitians can balance the concurrent need of normal growth and development along with prevention of chronic illnesses that stem from poor nutrition due to consumption of foods high in energy density, but low in nutrient density.
“EB4K will mobilize and streamline existing work by RDs ? professionals with the expertise essential to success ? allowing for a coordinated effort to promote healthy eating and prevent childhood obesity in our area and nationwide,” said Dodd. “Under the umbrella of Kids Eat Right, new resources and tools are available to help families take practical steps to a healthier lifestyle. Whether working with an RD about foods, grocery shopping or healthier cooking, the program is designed to not only provide information, but also empower families to actually transform their daily behaviors.”
Kids Eat Right will also include a community component for family members with grocery store tours and nutrition education outreach into school student homes. [Include more specifics of local program here.] EB4K is an example of Giant Eagle’s decade-long effort to introduce nutrition education for school-age children with programs like Be A Smart Shopper, which provides a tour of a supermarket and a presentation on healthy eating.
The Family Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey results indicate parents have a strong impact in the lives of their children, including their eating behaviors. Parents were rated as the top two role models of children and more than three-fourths of parents believe that doctors and registered dietitians are very credible sources of information regarding nutrition and physical activity, and they want to speak with RDs about family nutrition issues, including what foods children need to eat to be healthy; healthy meal ideas and preparation guidance; selecting healthy foods when grocery shipping and reading labels.
|
 |
|
