NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., April 18, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Junior League of Orange County, Calif., Inc., (JLOCC) is adding its support to the Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI) in launching an educational initiative to prevent childhood obesity and aid nutritional education through a program known as "Kids in the Kitchen."
As part of this campaign, the Web site http://kidsinthekitchen.ajli.org offers a virtual cookbook featuring kid-friendly, nutritious recipes that are grouped into categories including breakfast, lunchbox, dinner, snacks and party treats. The Web site also provides tips and recipes of the day, as well as quizzes and polls to test kids on their nutritional knowledge. The recipes and tips can be e-mailed to friends, or printed out and pasted on index cards.
The Kids in the Kitchen Web site also features celebrities such as Fran Drescher, best known for her role in TV's hit series The Nanny, and Emmy Rossom, star of The Phantom of the Opera, who have contributed healthy recipes. Fullback Heath Evans, of three-time Super Bowl Champions the New England Patriots, shares his personal fitness and nutrition tips. Other contributing chefs include New York City's Daniel Boulud, a Food Network veteran. Teen cookbook authors Jill and Megan Carle, creators of "Teens Cook: How to Cook What You Want to Eat" also offer their favorite recipes for picky eaters. Cookbook author and Food Network newcomer Ellie Krieger also participates.
This Junior League initiative is in response to the alarming statistic that nearly one-third of children and adolescents in the United States are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight. Even more alarming is that childhood obesity has been shown to be the leading cause of pediatric hypertension, is associated with Type II diabetes, increases the risk of coronary heart disease, increases stress on the weight-bearing joints, lowers self-esteem and affects relationships with peers. With the goal of raising awareness and attempting to reverse the growth of childhood obesity and its associated health issues, the League-wide program will educate children and families about childhood obesity and nutrition, culminating in Junior League Volunteer Day, taking place during National Volunteer Week, April 23-29, 2006.
While the Kids in the Kitchen Web site is available to all who wish to access it, an additional program will be conducted by JLOCC on Saturday, April 29, at the Boys and Girls Club of Garden Grove. Susan Johnson, owner of Susan's Healthy Gourmet, will demonstrate the creation of nutritious snacks and meals. In addition, interactive sessions with a doctor and an exercise physiologist will also be held.
The Junior League of Orange County, Calif., Inc., (JLOCC) is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. The members of the JLOCC share a vision of a community in which all children and adolescents are supported to flourish and realize their hopes and dreams. The organization's vision is for each individual member to be supported and encouraged to increase her experience, knowledge, and leadership skill set in the process of becoming an effectively trained community volunteer. To learn more about the JLOCC, call (949) 261-0823 or visit www.jlocc.org