National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month Sets The Stage For A Healthy Schools Revolution

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 5, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- President Obama has declared September National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, and as kids across America head back to school there's a growing controversy around school nutrition policies that may not be putting the health of our children at the forefront.

Seeking to arm parents and educators with the know-how and resources to combat childhood obesity, The Healthy Schools Revolution, a virtual summit to be held online this October, will feature 18 game-changing experts sharing their replicable models of  success for getting made-from-scratch meals on the lunch line, grass-fed beef added to their school's menu, school gardens incorporated into the classroom and lunchroom, physical activities weaved into each class period and so much more.

This solution-packed, resource-filled summit also includes an opportunity for schools and organizations to raise much-needed funds for implementing these healthy initiatives. What makes it special is that it's an opportunity to "Earn and Learn," with half of each $10 registration fee going back to the participant's school by Nov. 14 to help fund local healthy-school initiatives.

The need has never been greater. Despite increased awareness, education and intervention programs, childhood obesity in the United States has actually increased since 2000 from 14.5 to 17.3 percent of American kids, according to a recent CDC study. As a result, today's youth face an alarmingly high risk for such life-threatening conditions as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and strokes.

"Communities across the country are taking gradual steps toward addressing this crisis, but what's really needed is a solution revolution," said Carmen Johnson, a board certified health coach who created the summit. "Our goal is to equip parents and school personnel with proven strategies and free resources so they can begin right away to incorporate simple healthy changes that improve the nutritional value of school lunches and add more physical activity into each school day."

From Oct. 6-31, participant will have exclusive online access to a series of video interviews where more than a dozen difference-makers will share easy, inexpensive ways to provide better nutrition and a brighter future for America's school kids. Topics will include:

• Dr. David Katz, founding director of Yale University's Prevention Research Center, sharing his free ABC (Activity Burst in the Classroom) Fitness Program that shows teachers how to incorporate physical activity into each class period, allowing students to release excess energy and attain better focus.
• Noted chef, author and activist Ann Cooper, known as "The Renegade Lunch Lady," will share how she navigated school policies and government regulations to incorporate grass-fed beef and other wholesome foods into her Colorado school's menu.
• Educator Stephen Ritz showing how to get kids excited about fruits and vegetables by starting a school garden, where they grow their own food for the school cafeteria. Ritz has helped students in the Bronx grow more than 30,000 pounds of vegetables while substantially improving their academic performance and helping them earn a living wage and learn valuable life skills along the way.
• American Fitness Index chair Dr. Walt Thompson describing how the After-School All-Stars program is getting Atlanta teens motivated to stay active and healthy.

Anyone interested in signing up for the online summit should visit www.thehealthyschoolsrevolution.com for details and registration information. Organizations wishing to become a Healthy Schools Revolution fund-raising affiliate should visit http://thehealthyschoolsrevolution.com/healthy-schools-affiliate-program/ to learn how they can earn $5 to $23.50 for every participant they get to sign up.

"First Lady Michelle Obama has made conquering childhood obesity one of her primary goals, and her leadership is slowly getting lawmakers and regulators to realize that their policies, though well-meaning, lead to wasteful spending and often poor nutritional value in the food we serve our kids at school," added Johnson, herself the mother of two teenaged boys. "Ironically, the children at greatest risk are those from low-income families who may be getting all their daily food intake from school meals. For them and for all of our children for generations to come, we need a solution revolution to put the focus back on feeding America's schoolchildren in the healthiest and most cost-efficient fashion possible and make sure they have plenty of exercise each day."

SOURCE The Healthy Schools Revolution