Nourish Our Kids - Our Kids

The Media Sheds Light on the Obesity Epidemic

Since the Rodale Inc.’s Prevention magazine announced the findings from its comprehensive Children’s Health survey in the fall of 2003, the threat of childhood obesity has been in the media’s limelight. In September, ABC aired a Primetime Special called “Fat Like Me,” about the way in which 15-year old Ali Schmidt was treated as the new-kid in school, while dressed in a fat-suit. Ali, an attractive 5’7” athletic adolescent from Bronx, NY, found that while dressed in a fat-suit and posing as a new student at Stratford High School in Connecticut, kids that she would normally expect to be her friends, ridiculed her, in some cases, very blatantly.

After this special aired, many newspapers across the country ran feature articles on childhood obesity. Within a couple of months, more magazines, outside of the Rodale network of magazines, began zeroing in on the obesity crisis. Hillary Carrol, an 11-year old with “adult-onset” diabetes, is on the cover of the December 8th issue of Time magazine; the headline reads, Diabetes: Are You at Risk?

Prevention magazine’s article “How to Raise Fit Kids in Fattening World” and the resulting media responses target responsibility for resolving the childhood obesity to the parents. They suggest prevention and treatment measures such as: Measure your child’s BMI and if it is in the overweight range, take the next step and visit your child’s pediatrician; consume less fast food; eat dinner together as a family; serve several small meals as opposed to the traditional three large meals; serve smaller potions for dessert; pin up the food pyramid; don’t make foods completely off-limits; and encourage less TV and video game time and more physical activity. While some of these suggestions are beneficial, they undermine the impact that the government and media as well as other social institutions have on the childhood obesity epidemic.

The good news is that the media itself has begun unveiling these structural causes of obesity. On December 8th, ABC aired another obesity-related primetime special with a much different twist than the special they aired in September. Hosted by Peter Jennings, “How to Get Fat Without Really Trying” attempted to answer the question “Who is to blame for the obesity crisis in America?” This special was eye-opening for the many Americans who attempt diet after diet with little success and for the families who do try to alter their children’s diets and do try to incorporate more activity into their children’s daily routines. Peter Jennings shows how the obesity epidemic in America is largely a problem of misguided public policy and unintended consequences of nearly 50 years of food industry practices. He explains how agricultural subsidies go to the foods that Americans should be eating less. For instance, corn, the most heavily subsidized crop in America, is used in soft drinks and other processed foods (a.k.a. high-fructose corn syrup). Jennings also reports how the vast majority of new foods that hit the market every year, are the least nutritious. Finally, Jennings explains how the aggressive food advertisements contribute to the childhood obesity epidemic.

A Canadian television series has also been revealing astonishing information about the sociological causes of childhood obesity. The Nature of Things series, airing on CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) produced three programs related to the obesity epidemic. “The Weight of the World” examines obesity as a global man-made epidemic, focusing on the sociological causes of the deadly disease. This program aired on December 3rd, 2003. “Corporate agriculture: The Hollow Men” examines the growth of corporate agriculture and describes the way in which this agricultural trend has generated severe social, environmental and health consequences. This program airs on CBC on January 7th, 2004. “Alternative Agriculture: Food For Life” looks at alternatives to corporate farming, such as organic farming. This program explains the multitude of benefits that result from alternative farming practices. This program airs on January 14th, 2004. For more information on this series, visit:

Nature of Things Program Schedule

So, who is to blame for the childhood obesity epidemic? Parents? The Government? The food industry? The media? And more importantly, how can we begin chipping away at this outrageous epidemic? These recent reports confirm one thing: the causes of childhood obesity are many and are complex. Pointing fingers will not resolve the issue. Action will help tackle this widespread problem. Action to promote childhood health and wellness is precisely why Nourish Our Kids is here. We are here to aid stakeholders in children’s health (which is everybody from corporations, schools, to families). Please peruse this site to see how you can help our society reverse the childhood obesity trend whether it be through preventative measures in your own home or whether it be at a political level, such as lobbying for no junk food in schools.

Homecoming: Bringing our Attention Inwards During the Winter Months

by Shannon Martin

In many places across the United States, its cold outside, frigid, often unbearable. It’s no wonder our furry friends hibernate throughout the winter. Though the coldness of winter can be harsh, we can take advantage of these winter months to cultivate warmth within our homes and within ourselves. Winter is a perfect time to nourish our families with warm caring love and complementary wholesome foods. Take time this winter to plan activities to do indoors and take time to nourish yourselves with wholesome foods. Don’t forget to let the children participate throughout the entire homecoming process! Is your home a cozy place for you and your loved ones? Are you and your children working as a team to nourish your bodies, minds and spirits? Below are five basic ideas to bring your attention home this winter.

1.) Combat winter gloom with warm light. Add incandescent light bulbs to your home to supply brighter, warmer light. Candlelight also warms a room. Place candles with wintery scents (pine, cinnamon, or vanilla) around your home. You can place mirrors behind the candles to magnify the warmth of the candlelight.

2.) Alleviate Childhood Boredom! Children often complain of boredom when the blistering wind confines them to the indoors. Honor your children’s needs and plan exciting activities inside your home for the entire family to participate in. For instance, create a winter box. Sit down with your spouse and children and design a little box with a winter theme (you can use an old shoe box). You may want to cut out little snowflakes and paste them on the box. Foils make nice covering as well. Then take little pieces of paper and write on each piece, a fun activity that the entire family can partake in. Ideas include: playing a game of charades or a board game like Pictionary, baking cookies, renting a movie, putting together a puzzle or doing an art project together. Whenever one of your children complains of boredom, have them pick an activity out of the winter box and encourage the entire family to participate.

3.) Create a Special Winter Reading Space. Reading as a family is also a great bonding activity. Create a special winter space where you can all gather around to read or tell stories a couple of times a week. Maybe you can designate one corner of your living room to be the reading corner. Fill the corner with big plush sitting pillows and a little table with candles.

4.) Make Meals Together. It’s often hard to find a time when all family members can gather together to eat meals. Try to make meal-time, family-time. Involving children in the cooking process is a great way to help them learn about nourishment. It also becomes fulfilling for them to eat healthy food, because they know that they helped create it. Include plenty of warming foods in your winter meal repertoire. Great warming foods include soups, stews, beans, seaweeds and buckwheat.

5.) Get out the afghans and snuggle! Blankets and throws are a great way to snuggle with loved ones. Gather your children up and snuggle when you are reading or any other time. They will love the special attention!

Remember, spring is just around the corner. New opportunities will arise in spring. Now though, take advantage of the homecoming opportunity that winter gives us! Have fun!

Visit Shannon's website at www.shannonlynn.com