A new study out of Temple University was published this week showing that the Head Start programs across the country are doing a pretty good job – more than what is required of them – of giving kids a healthy, energy-balanced start in life¹.  The question is, are you doing the same for your kids or grandkids?

Head Start is a national pre-school program for children from low-income families.  The program focuses on preparing young children for success in school by “enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to enrolled children and families.”  The Temple University study showed that on the health and nutrition side of things, Head Start is doing a great job.  Of the 1583 Head Start programs studied (87% of all Head Start programs):

• 97% served some fruit, other than 100% fruit juice, every day
• 94% served some vegetable other than French fries, every day
• 91% reported doing both of these daily
• 70% served only nonfat or 1% milk
• 64% celebrated special events with healthy foods or nonfood treats
• 54% did not allow vending machines for staff

Most of the programs did a good job on the calorie-burning side of the energy balance equation, including:

• 89% having an on-site outdoor play area
• 74% having instructed physical activities for at least 30 minutes every day
• 73% giving children the chance to do unstructured physical activities for at least 30 minutes every day
• 56% doing both types of physical activities

So bravo for Head Start!!  Now let’s turn the spotlight on you and your family’s habits.  Yes, the healthy practices scrutinized in this study are good for the whole family. How many of the following goals do you attain? 

Do you serve: 

• some type of fruit (fresh, canned, frozen, dried), other than 100% fruit juice, every day?
• some vegetable other than French fries, every day?
• only nonfat or 1% milk?
• only healthy foods or nonfood treats to celebrate special events?

Do you encourage your child to:

• play outside every day?
• do at least 60 minutes of age-appropriate physical activities every day?

How did you do?  If you hit all the goals consistently, good for you!  If not, take a look at several earlier blogs to get your kids off to a healthy head start on a lifetime of calorie balance and a healthy weight.

Healthy Eating Made Easy – Info on the MyPyramid resources for preschoolers and young kids.

Reduce Kids’ Calories By Cutting Calorie Density - Creative solutions for lowering calories without giving up nutrition

Physical Activity – It’s Child’s Play! - rphysical activity recommendations and resources for young children

¹ Whitaker RC, Gooze RA, Hughes CC, and Finkelstein DM.  A national survey of obesity prevention practices in Head Start.  Archive of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.  2009;163(12):114-1150.