Healthier kids, healthier communities: 4 ways to get involved

(BPT) – It’s no secret that experiences in early and middle childhood are extremely important for a child’s healthy development and lifelong learning. Yet schools – the places where kids spend the majority of their time outside of the home during the week – often lack the resources and support needed to enable and inspire students to adopt healthier lifestyles.

The solution is within reach; it rests in the hands of parents and other concerned community members who make investments (even small ones) in kids inside and outside of school to help build healthier communities and a healthier world.

Dominique Dawes, an Olympic Gold Medalist, three-time Olympian and child nutrition advocate, shares her tips on how caregivers can get involved in manageable, meaningful ways to impact change within their children’s schools and communities.

1. Understand you’re not alone. Look to organizations with a footprint in your community, and seek out ways to volunteer. There’s a great organization called Action for Healthy Kids. With the help of sponsors like GoGo squeeZ, their volunteer network works to improve the health and wellness of students in schools nationwide and highlight the link between nutrition, physical activity and learning. They even have an ‘Every Kid Healthy Week’ to celebrate the great effort schools are making. Programs like these are impactful resources for parents, students and teachers alike.

2. Reach out to your local parks and recreation department. Chances are, they’re looking for volunteers. You may be able to help out with something on a recurring basis – a wellness or athletic program of particular interest to you. Also, ask about other ways you can serve your community. They may have park cleanup programs or other projects that can get your whole family moving and contributing.

3. Make it fun. Talk to the administration at your child’s school about activities and competitions to help students take ownership of their own health. Action for Healthy Kids offers free online activities to help improve physical activity and nutrition in school, but you can also encourage your school to apply for a grant to expand your local resources. Sponsors like GoGo squeeZ fund new grants every year!

4. Don’t underestimate your own abilities. Did you grow up learning gymnastics? Speak to the parents of your kids’ friends about organizing a gymnastics workshop at the park one weekend. Do you have a passion for making (and eating) healthy food? Volunteer to bring easy, nutritious snacks to a local after-school program, sports group or camp whenever you’re able. Bonus: nothing builds new friendships faster than food!

‘I talk to so many people who care about the issues we’re facing with childhood health and wellness but don’t know how to get their foot in the door,’ Dawes says. ‘My best advice is to start small, but start somewhere. Just one small change can make a significant difference in the life of a child and the health of a community.’

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Deborah Bixler is committed to making a distinction in children’s vigor through nutrition and wellness schooling. Using superior for you cooking choices and good food cooking classes, Bixler teaches families fun, fast and healthy meal solutions so that they can spend more quality time consuming good for you foods and live a long and healthy life.
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Bixler provides healthy living workshops to businesses, schools, organizations and not for profit groups. Programs are customized for each presentation taking into consideration special needs and circumstances of the group. As a wellness and healthy living living coach Bixler’s cooking classes focus on fun, fast and health recipes and tips. Some of the many special needs cooking classes that she has provided for a variety of organizations have included diabetic, autism, vegetarian, vegan, lactose intolerant, gluten free, heart healthy and more. Deborah hands out good for you recipes for your members in attendance and a call to action so that your audience actually make changes in their lives. For natural food recipes and tips visit:
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In addition to cooking events Deborah has many other presentations available include school healthy living assemblies, corporate diet and weight loss programs, health and wellness presentations for teachers in-service days, parent teacher association programs and fundraisers with a healthy flair. Whether you are looking for a health and wellness workshop, a cooking class, a diet program or an ongoing employee health and wellness program, http://www.debbixler.com/nutrition-education.html.com is the place to visit.

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Trained as a Culinary Chef at the Culinary Institute Of America and a graduate of the Hotel Restaurant Management program at Luzerne County Community College, Deb enjoyed a successful career in the customer service industry. As a member of the School Nutrition Association and a qualified trainer for the National Restaurant Association’s ManageFirst curriculum, Bixler teaches wellness to all school levels from kindergarten through college level culinary programs.

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