Our Northwest Kids Need Your Help!
Take action to help kids grow up healthy and feeling great. These simple and effective steps will help kids reach their full potential.
Join the hundreds of Northwestern Ontario adults who are already making small changes where kids live, learn and play. Feel good about what you are already doing. Challenge yourself to do more to make the healthy choice the easy choice. Do it for our kids!
Nourished Kids
- Rethink the drink! Offer water for thirst. Serve milk, chocolate milk or 100% juice at meals and snacks.
- Energize! Serve healthy foods most often to build smart brains and strong bodies. Less healthy choices are okay to eat now and then.
- Discourage dieting! Offer all children the same balanced food choices. Dieting often leads to weight gain and health problems. Focus on being healthy, not skinny.
Here's what you can do:
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Find out more about nutrition and healthy eating at EatRight Ontario. You can also speak to a registered dietitian by calling the EatRight Ontario toll-free telephone information service at 1-877-510-5102, Monday - Friday from 9 - 5 pm.
- Help your school community address healthy eating with curriculum based lessons, school nutrition checklists, healthier options for classroom celebrations and snacks, ideas for vending machines, fundraising, tasty nutritious recipes and healthy lifestyl articles, step-by-step examples to help create and implement healthy school food and nutrition policies with the Menu of Choices.
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Learn more about promoting positive body image and healthy lifestyles to kids at home and at school (grades 4 - 6) through the teacher learning modules and parent information on Media and Peer Pressure, Healthy Eating, Active Living, Teasing, Adult Role Models and School Climate at The Student Body Promoting Health at Any Size.
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Find out about "BusyBodies" creative food and play ideas to try with preschoolers (aged 3-5).
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*NEW* Check out the "Adventures in Cooking" program for kids aged 8-12. Download a copy of the Leader's Manual for yourself and consider setting up a fun program to help kids learn how to cook healthy meals and snacks.
Active Kids
- Get creative! Take a look at who’s not moving. Talk to them about what interests them and offer something for everyone.
- Play for fun! Help kids focus on friends, fun and being a good sport instead of winning at all costs.
- Snack on exercise! Get kids moving many times throughout the day. Chores, walking and simple games count.
Here's what you can do:
- Get ideas on intramural and recreation programs that everyone can participate in regardless of skill level at the Canadian Intramural and Recreation Association.
- Check out the fun and practical tips for parents to get kids active from the Thunder Bay District Health Unit.
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Find out about "BusyBodies" creative food and play ideas to try with preschoolers (aged 3-5).
- Happy Kids
- Show you care! Talk with kids one-on-one so they feel supported by all the adults in their lives.
- Accept each other! Put a stop to all teasing and labeling. Healthy bodies come in different shapes, sizes and colours.
- Ask the kids! Find ways to involve kids in all kinds of decisions.
Here's what you can do:
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Learn more about resiliency and how to help kids to cope with life's challenges from the
Resiliency Institute.
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Adults Make it Happen
- Spread the word! Share what you’ve learned with anyone who will listen.
- Speak up! Push for changes to make a difference wherever you can.
- Build strength! Join a group or start your own. Consider getting involved with one of these local groups:
Take Heart
Food Action Network
Thunder Bay International Baseball Association
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit Library has resources on a variety of topics that you can borrow. Visit the Resource Centre or call Barb at 625-5901.