YMCA Program Teaches Families Healthy Eating

These families are cooking now.

Parents and children recently learned healthy cooking alternatives by cooking a meal as part of a class in the Fit4All Kids program put on by the James P. Gills Family YMCA and All Children's Hospital.

On the same day the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit advocacy group, released the results of a study on the children's menus of chain restaurants. More than 90 percent of children's menu items are too high in calories, the CSPI study concludes.

So the YMCA group learned the best way to navigate around a buffet table by fixing their own tacos and trimmings. The recipes included a heaping helping of fun.

For instance, children could choose to place meat on tortillas, taco shells or on lettuce for a taco salad, one of the instructors, Kelly McCullough explained.

A handout also listed kitchen safety tips.

The whole idea behind the Fit4All Kids 8-week summer course was to head off obesity problems for children ages 8 to 12.

"It's a lifestyle change" involving the entire family, not just the children, another instructor, Deanna Krautner on loan from the county health department, explained.

Skills include grocery shopping and family activities, Krautner said. "It's more than just exercise, but that is a piece of it."

During the 8-week course, participants got full YMCA privileges like the swimming pool. Families have the option to join the YMCA after the program.

Fit4All Kids participants split their time between nutrition and exercises at each class.

The children were fascinated by the electronic jump ropes handed out to them this particular evening. The display can show not only the number of jumps, but also information like calories burned.