SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - CDC numbers show childhood obesity has tripled in the past thirty year. One in five children is now obese. West Jordan elementary students were given tools to make better nutrition decisions, including how to avoid sneaky shopping tricks, and how to make “ants on a log”.
Dalton is a fourth grader at Oquirrh Elementary School. He describes today’s nutrition lesson like this. "How the process of food works."
The lesson is taught by a Molina Healthcare health educator. The goal is to show kids how to make healthy choices, and avoid nutritional pitfalls. One of those can be found in the middle of the grocery store. Kaylin Phillips says stay on the outer edges where the healthier food is stocked, and where you will find the most bang for your buck. "Sticking to the perimeter is important because that's where the foods are that are natural and from the earth and give you the energy that you need."
Phillips says it's important to teach children these kinds of tips while they are still young.
"I want to give them the resources that they need how to go shopping with their parents what to look for when they are there, and give them options for eating healthy good snacks and good treats." She says kids who make unhealthy choices, too often live unhealthy lives. "Already as young as they are, they can have heart problems, asthma, depression and diabetes."
She says kids are not entirely responsible and parents should also learn about nutrition.
"We all love our loved ones and we all went to take care of each other, and if you don't know, and you are not educated then how you would know you are doing things wrong."
Today’s nutrition lesson concluded with a healthy snack. Students made a delicacy known as “ants on a log”. Some were skeptical as they slathered their celery stick with peanut butter and topped it with raisins. Most ate the treats with a smile.
Logan was one of the students pleasantly surprised by her creation. She chalked it up as one of the most surprising facts she learned. "Peanut butter and celery and all of the other things can go good together and taste good and actually be good for your body."
Only two percent of school-aged children consume the recommended daily number of servings from all five major food groups.
