Group Hopes to Encourage Kids to Make Healthy Choices

By David Nivens, High Point Enterprise, N.C.

Mar. 12–HIGH POINT — The Junior League of High Point will join other sponsors Saturday to host the third annual Kids in the Kitchen.

With the goal to raise awareness and help reverse the growth of childhood obesity and its associated health issues, the High Point group will hold the event from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Millis Regional Health Education Center, 600 N. Elm St.

Big Brothers Big Sisters, YWCA and the Boys and Girls Club also will participate. Activities in the Millis Center’s activity room will include reading, dancing and singing with Charles the Chef creators Roosevelt Pitt and Mshindo Kuumba.

“Our goal is to encourage children to make healthy decisions through proper nutrition, exercise and good hygiene in their everyday lives. We plan to do this by hosting multiple stations and demonstrations throughout our morning events,” said Meredith Covington, the Junior League’s project chairwoman.

The children will rotate stations every 30 minutes to learn about food safety, hygiene tips and preparation of nutritious snacks.

Studies show that kids who help with shopping and meal preparation are more likely to eat healthy foods. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans encourage children and adults to eat 2 cups of fruit and 21?2 cups of vegetables every day. American children eat just half that much.

Other event supporters are High Point Regional Health System, Charles the Chef Inc., Cabot Cheese, Ciba Corp., Wendy’s No. 504, the Cloverleaf grocery store, Harris Teeter Store No. 173 and Food Lion Store No. 251.

dnivens@hpe.com|888-3626

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