I need to step on my soap box today.
Bear with me while I get this thing situated; it’s a big box. I know I’ve been working out and all, but it’s still pretty heavy, plus a tall order to boot.
Obesity is a big problem in the United States, no pun intended. Child obesity even more so.
- The rates for childhood obesity have more than doubled in the past thirty years.
- Obese youth are more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure.
- Obese adolescents are more likely to have prediabetes.
- Children and adolescents who are obese are likely to be obese as adults.
- Overweight and obesity are associated with increased risk for many types of cancer, including cancer of the breast, colon, endometrium, esophagus, kidney, pancreas, gall bladder, thyroid, ovary, cervix, and prostate, as well as multiple myeloma and Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Some days those numbers make we want to scream and shout. What kind of country are we building when our children’s mortality rate is lower than our own? How is that setting them up for the future?
Some days those numbers make me want rant and rave. What message are we sending our kids? What sustainable habits are we teaching them?
Some days those numbers make me want to throw in the towel because they’re just so damn disheartening, especially when you consider that obesity, for the majority of them, is a learned trait.
There’s a reason I signed up to be a Healthy Living Blogger though, and it has nothing to do with protein powder, egg whites, or two-a-days.
For me, being a Healthy Living Blogger is about promoting health and wellness, through whole foods, in a sustainable and responsible fashion. I am not a nutritionist, a fitness expert nor a registered dietician. I’m just a girl who loves her veggies as much, if not more so, than her cake, and I want to show people how those same veggies can be sinfully delicious, minus the sin part because I’m on my best behavior today.
I want to make a difference in people’s health, and I support anyone whose vision is in line with my own. HealthCorps is one company I can get behind, in front of, or whichever way they’ll take me.
HealthCorps “vision is to lead a nationwide movement toward a new generation of healthy young people.” With the addition of an on-site Health Coordinator in schools, they are creating “an innovative in-school model that inspires teens to make healthier choices for themselves and their families.”
Sounds pretty fantastic, yes?
I was fortunate enough to be a part of what HealthCorps is trying to accomplish here at Ginn Academy, an all boys high school in Cleveland, Ohio. I joined Jasmyne Jackson, their on-site Health Coordinator, and her students for a day with the Cooking Club.
Side note: I so badly wanted to break into Outcast when I met her. ♫ “I’m sorry Ms. Jackson (oh). I am for real.” ♫ I bet she gets that a lot. Or not.
The Cooking Club is an after school program, that meets weekly and teaches the students how to make healthier choices, and also how to implement them, by literally getting down and dirty in the kitchen, or really the classroom turned kitchen. Details, details. These guys have a Vitamix, which makes it a step above my kitchen, although they are lacking an oven, so I guess we’re even.
Even without an oven, they managed to put together a pretty spectacular spread. Thai food was all the rage when I was there. We got to learn a bit about the culture and the benefits of a Thai diet, and I got to try a freshly made green salad topped with sliced mango and shaved ginger. The dressing was the star of the show though. It was a perfect balance of sweet and salty, which not only impressed the kids, but got them to see a far healthier and equally delicious alternative to their once beloved ranch dressing. Accompanying the salad was a satisfying and savory bowl of Thai Style Fish Chowder, which included garlic, jalapeno, potatoes, corn, lima beans, ginger, cod, coconut milk, fresh cilantro, basil and mint. It was a flavor explosion, and these kids made it all by themselves, from start to finish.
In previous cooking club sessions, they’ve created a whole host of dishes, including but not limited to granola (my specialty), linguine with mussels, and green smoothies, the surprising, yet overwhelming fan favorite. Obviously, these guys have great taste.
Between the Cooking Club and the annual Health Fair, there is a dedicated group of people at Ginn Academy working to broaden the horizons of these kids by exposing them to new food choices and lifestyle practices, such as yoga. The school is also working on plans for their own community garden, and next week they are celebrating National Salad Day, a topic I can totally dig. Maybe they’ll let me bring some salad toppings; I’ve got a few in mind. They are sharing and teaching skills which will benefit these students for the rest of their lives; or at least so long as they need food for survival, which I’m pretty sure is going to be a while.
Being a part of their Cooking Club, even for one session, was something I’ll never forget. When it was all said and done that day, we got to kick back and enjoy the fruits of our labor. We even put on some tunes, while we happily slurped up our soup and dug into our salads. Too bad it wasn’t Outcast. ♫ “I’m sorry Ms. Jackson (oh). I am for real.” ♫
Have you ever got to be a part of something like this? Would you want to? If you are an HLB, why did you join the community?
This is awesome. Love that they have this program and it’s really cool that you got to be a part of it. I need some classes from you too!
I’d be happy to teach you, although don’t be surprised if you end up teaching me a thing or two. Cooking is one of those things where I think we can all learn from each other.
It was an amazing experience.
What an awesome programme! I live in the Netherlands now, otherwise, I would definitely be getting involved in something like this. Here, the health problems are quite similar to the US, especially as I see more and more ‘Americanization’ happening in general, but especially with food. A lot of people consider french fries dinner! And if you are looking at a children’s menu (even in a fancy restaurant), your options are all going to be deep fried!
I seem to be on my own soap box at the moment… but I have a Toddler and what he eats is very, very, very important to me (and my husband) even if my in laws and our friends think I am quite extreme and they ‘have never seen a child who eats so healthy’. One of the reasons I started my blog was also to post about a keeping up with a healthy lifestyle, and also to show that kids like healthy foods, too – and my toddler definitely does.
Okay, enough of my rant- I really love this idea and your blog and recipes are awesome 🙂
Yuliya recently posted…Teaching my toddler how to do things (Montessori Activities for Toddlers)
I don’t blame you. In fact, I’d probably be similar if I had children. What you eat matters, so I can understand wanted to give them the very best.
Annnnd this is why I heart you, girl! Our reasons for blogging are pretty much in sync i.e. to raise awareness! With my blog, I hope to empower others for them to realize that leading a healthy lifestyle doesn’t mean living in the gym or only eating salads. I love that you took part in The Cooking Club- sounds just up my alley!
Khushboo recently posted…Friday Favorites: 05/16
I think you would love this program. It’s very much in line with you and your health goals. It’s similar to everything K Weigh stands for. 🙂
What an outstanding and really great program! I am so smitten by the fact that it teaches the kids something they can truely participate from. Something they can go home with and start to change NOW. What a great opportunity to participate!
I joined the community as I wanted to show that living a healthy life doesn’t mean to be an elite athlete or hypoglycemic party pooper. Not necessarily at least 😉 And of course I wanted to learn from and get inspired by all the awesome bloggers in there!
Juli @1000lovelythings recently posted…Crossfit Friday
Yes being inspired by other bloggers is a huge plus for our community. Sometimes I forget that, but I’ve gotten so many great recipes and ideas from other bloggers. They really are fantastic.
Love this!!!! Meghan, I would love to learn more about this program. As I continue on track to be a certified Wellness Coach, this is inspiring that there are these programs in our own backyard, but receive very little attention. Kudos to you for getting involved!!!
Thanks Katy. This is a great program to get involved in, and it’s awesome they work with a school right here in Cleveland.
This is SOSOSOSO cool, and I am so glad you were apart of this!! I would DEFINITELY partake myself. What a blast. The stats on obesity in general are enough to make me want to flee to Canada. Sorry, but America disappoints me.
Brittany recently posted…$36 vs. $36
I knew you would love this. In fact, I thought of you when I was doing it.
You know, as a HLB I think it’s easy to get caught up in our own little bubble of healthy food and fitness and forget that there are populations that don’t prioritize food and movement like we do. Very often, it’s because they don’t have access to the info, or have the resources to eat a healthy diet.
This is a big deal in LA where there’s a not-so-fine line between the rich and the not rich. It’s a challenge to spot a grocery store in south central LA. That means fresh veggies are not available, but McDonalds is.
I don’t know what the answer to this problem is on a large scale, but on a local scale, it looks like you’ve uncovered a gem.
caren recently posted…Comment on Scenes from my crazy-pants weekend by Caren
That’s exactly right.
It’s funny because we’re in this community to promote health and wellness, yet everybody in it is already healthy. I don’t wonder if there’s a way we can’t pool our resources as a community to somehow try and impact those outside of our group, who really are looking for health and wellness tips.
What a fantastic initiative, Meg- and what a fantastic post!
I love the reasoning behind your HLB mindset and dammit, it’s a refreshing one. It’s why I appreciate bloggers like you who are unicorns and don’t give a shit(ake mushroom). The HLB community has recently become somewhat like high school (which I’m stoked your oblivious to!) and it honestly just tarnishes the ‘community’ name.
It’s ironic, statistics like that- especially with us first world countries preaching all these new initiative and education.
Arman @ thebigmansworld recently posted…When the blogging world replicates high school
I know the statistics are dismal, and it still shocks me how immune people are to the problem. Sigh.
Come join my HLB mindset. It’s fun here and we play great music. 🙂
This is amazing. The chowder and liguine sound great… I’m surprised that they liked it so much. Not surprised in a bad way, but in a “wow, that’s fantastic” type of way. It irks me when someone prefers junk food so much that they don’t like the taste of real food anymore.
I like what the video said… LIFETIME. Exactly.
I’ve never been a part of something like this, but I would love to. Whenever I get the chance, I like to give people ideas about being healthier. My friend the other day just asked me about local meat and I shared with her where we buy ours. And I sent her some healthier cheesecake recipes because her boyfriend is trying to reduce sugar and she needed some ideas.
I don’t like to be a badger though, so I speak up way less than I should. Like when someone talks about how bad fat is for you, or how carbs, or dairy, or egg yolks are terrible for your health… I just don’t always feel confident enough to start that conversation with someone. Obviously I need to make more of an effort, because looking back on those missed opportunities now, the reason why I joined the HLB community in the first place was to share the word. And that needs to be both online and in real life.
Madison @ Eating for Balance recently posted…WIAW- Food Allergy Awareness Week 2014
Go get ’em Madison!
Just kidding. I don’t like to be a badger either, but I’m also pretty poor at holding my tongue. I already think you do a great job though in our little community of promoting ways to eat enjoyable and healthy dishes that are allergen friendly. Allergies are a big deal these days, and I can guarantee you’re helping folks with your recipes.
Childhood obesity is one thing that chaps my ass. It makes me so mad the way society and the school system perpetuate it. Grrrrr…
This program sounds awesome. I’d definitely be a part of something like it!
Laura @ Spint 2 the Table recently posted…Healthy Jicama Latkes
I agree; it makes me crazy because they were never given a choice or taught a different way. It’s a preventable problem.
What an amazing opportunity. I’m standing on the same soap box right next to you! As a psychologist I contract with a school district and on a daily I see students that can’t make it up one flight of stairs without being winded and they have to stop at the first landing before continuing. I work with students often who struggle with being obese and feeling lost and helpless. This is an elementary school! It breaks my heart. I’ve never heard Health Corps but I’m definitely going to look into it.
I think I found you via Twitter. So glad that I did 🙂
jill conyers recently posted…Spring Gardening and Recipes
I’m glad you did too, and I would absolutely recommend checking out HealthCorps. Great organization, great vision.
Obesity really bothers me when we’re talking about kids. I get so frustrated because generally it’s learned, and the school lunch program is also a big contributor, and it shouldn’t be like that. Makes me crazy.
This sounds like a fantastic program, and thank you so much for sharing their info I’m looking them up to see if there’s a way to get involved in my area as soon as I finish typing this! I love when you get on your soapbox, especially when the issue is one as important as this. I work with kiddos who have enough problems going on in their lives they don’t need preventable problems piling on to complicate things!!!
Sarah Pie recently posted…Spill it Sunday: Taking over the Big Man’s World
Yes, you should see if there’s a school in Chicago they work with. You’d love this; it’s right up your alley.
This group is INCREDIBLE!! And how awesome that you got to join in on the fun! Omg, I only WISH something like this had been in my school when I was growing up! I couldn’t agree with you more about the issues of childhood obesity…especially being that I work in the medical profession and see it so much. How sad is it to have a 10 year old patient weighing 50 pounds more than the adult treating him/her?!? Of course, I have even MORE to rant and rave, scream and shout about since the majority of healthcare workers that surround me are OBESE! Try as I might, I still can’t get my head around that!
Heather @ Kiss My Broccoli recently posted…Playing Favorites
I’m with you. I see it everywhere, every day, and I wish people correlated what they put into their bodies with their health, mental and physical. It’s amazing how big of an industry dieting is now a days, yet obesity is still growing (no pun intended). Obviously something isn’t working with our current approach. HealthCorps on the other hand really seems to have a great foundation with good backing and a clear vision. It was wonderful to be a part of this.