"Let's change the way we eat, let's change the way we live, and let's change the way we treat each other. You see the old way wasn't working so it's on us to do what we gotta do, to survive." - Tupac Shakur, the late African American rapper
One in three adults and one in five children is overweight. We are a country that is overweight yet undernourished. There are many issues contributing the the high rates of childhood obesity in our country- politics of food, social habits and screen time, big businesses marketing food products directly to kids, poor city planning, high energy and low nutrient school lunches, and lack of physical education in our schools
So why should we care about childhood obesity? Because obese kids are more likely to:
Be bullied,
Suffer childhood diabetes and sleep apnea and fatty liver disease,
Grow up to be obese adults with a long list of health problems,
Perform worse in school, and
Have a short lifespan than their parents.
What can you do?
Cook and eat a meal with your kids at home at least once a day, using whole foods like vegetables, eggs, fish, and whole grains
Demand a shift in priorities that you want your schools to equally support the healthy development of kids' minds AND bodies
Eat breakfast every day that includes protein (eggs, cheese, bacon) , fiber (oatmeal, grits, apple sauce), and colored fruits or vegetables (sweet potato, grapes)
Turn the screens and gadgets off after two hours
Play outside doing something you love every day
Drink water not soda
The ECO Project:
Bob’s Red Mill, an internationally known whole grain company based in Oregon, and NCNM, the National College of Natural Medicine, have teamed up to address the many issues that are contributing to the high rate of childhood obesity in our state. The mission of the ECO Project is to reduce chronic disease and morbidity associated with childhood obesity by empowering children, families, and communities through education to make and have access to healthy choices. The ECO Project will offer a series of twelve weekly workshops to children and families in the Portland and Gresham area that will provide education and training to both adults and children about cooking with whole foods and improving overall fitness.
How can I learn more about participating with the ECO Project?
Contact the Lead Physician, Dr. Courtney Jackson, at 503-552-1521 or send an email to cjackson@ncnm.edu.
