Why Move?

“Research shows that in addition to improved health, physical activity actually supports better learning in school. When kids are physically active, they perform better academically, have better attendance and their behavior improves.

What Works?

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation works “with tens of thousands of school and community organizations to develop strategies that increase physical activity before, during and after school. Of the schools that are actively engaged in the Alliance’s Healthy Schools Program, more than 85 percent of the elementary schools offered at least 20 minutes of recess per day. More than 75 percent dedicated at least 20 percent of their afterschool program time to physical activity.”

Together, We Can Get Kids Moving

“Take 3 minutes to see how active environments make better learners.”

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Keep summer boredom at bay and get kids moving! Promote healthy habits and keep kids engaged with tips from our friends at The Alliance for a Healthier Generation. Try some of their games, activities and strategies to create active and healthful environments for your kids at home, on vacation, at the park or wherever your kids may roam this summer.

“Making healthier choices doesn’t happen overnight and it’s important to be consistent to turn healthy eating and physical activity behaviors intohabits. It’s especially important to stay active and make healthy choices at snack and mealtimes over the summer months so that kids can pick up where they left off when the school year begins. After all, active kids learn better.

Fitness Cards:

Anyone – parents, kids, caregivers or neighbors – can take a time out for fitness with exercises such as push-ups, chair dips and invisible jump rope.

Click here!

Product Calculator for Smart Snacks:

Take the guesswork out of finding healthy snacks. Just enter the product information, answer a few questions and determine whether your beverage or snack is a healthy choice.

Click here!

Task Cards:

Print these cards and use them at home, waiting in line at the store or at summer camp to keep kids moving anytime, anywhere.”

Click here!

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Calling all kids chefs! Do you have a delicious, healthful, and affordable recipe you love to make? Enter the fourth-annual Healthy Lunchtime Challenge! Read below for more information from our friends at Let’s Move!

First Lady Michelle Obama is teaming up with PBS flagship station WGBH Boston, the U.S. Department of Education, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to host the fourth-annual Healthy Lunchtime Challenge to promote cooking and healthy eating among young people across the nation.

The challenge invites kids ages 8-12 to join a parent or guardian in creating an original recipe that is healthy, affordable, and delicious. One winner from each U.S. state, territory, and the District of Columbia will be selected and have the opportunity to attend a Kids’ “State Dinner” here at the White House this summer, where a selection of the winning recipes will be served.

Click here for more information about the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge and to submit your recipe by April 30!

“It is such a pleasure to host the Kids’ ‘State Dinner’ at the White House each year, and I am thrilled to announce the fourth year of our Healthy Lunchtime Challenge,” said First Lady Michelle Obama. “Every year I am blown away by the talent and creativity of the young chefs, and I cannot wait to welcome this year’s group at the White House this summer. So I hope young people across the country will get into the kitchen and get cooking!”

Don’t forget to check out USDA’s MyPlate to ensure that your recipe meets the nutrition guidelines and incorporates each of the food groups either in one dish or as parts of a lunch meal, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and low-fat dairy.

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner.  Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children.  She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

In February 2010, the First Lady Michelle Obama launched Let’s Move!, a nationwide initiative to create a healthier future for our kids and families. Today, Let’s Move! has helped move our nation in a healthier direction—from school lunches that are better for you, to raising awareness around the importance of drinking more water. The best part is that this healthy movement is becoming the new norm all across the country!

Are you, your family, and your community moving toward a healthier future? The First Lady wants to see! To celebrate Let’s Move!’s fourth anniversary, join us as we help spread the word about all the great work taking place across the country over the past four years!

This week, use the hashtag #LetsMove to share the healthy steps you, your family, and your community are taking. Did you take the stairs instead of the elevator? Fix yourself a big plateful of veggies? Try one of Michelle’s favorite MyPlate recipes from Pinterest? Tweet it, Instagram it, Facebook it!

At the Kids Food Festival this March 1st and 2nd from 10 am-4 pm, at Bryant Park in NYC (www.kidsfoodfestival.com), we can’t wait to get moving during the Balanced Plate Scavenger Hunt, based on ChooseMyPlate.gov’s recommendations! We’ll also be making a handful of healthful and delicious dishes with your kids, from beet lollipops, to yogurt parfaits. Plus, a handful of physical fitness friends will be on site, including activities from NFL Play 60, New York Sports Clubs, and yoga with Tara Stiles. General admission is free; buy $25 tickets to hands-on cooking classes here! #LetsMove

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

At the Creative Kitchen we are all about healthy, balanced diets but it’s also important to take care of our bodies by staying active. You’re never too young or old to flex those muscles, so what are you waiting for?  Let’s get moving!