Too Many Cellphones, Too little Fruit & Veg
Saturday, 16 October 2010 16:02 | 
Written by Administrator | 
When it comes to healthy eating, our children just aren't making the grade - scoring a dismal "D" on the MRC's Healthy Active Kids Report Card.
The Healthy Active Kids SA Report Card was developed by leading experts in the field, convened by the Sports Science Institute of South Africa in conjunction with Vitality, and is an analysis of research into South African children's health risks. It found that, alarmingly, South African children and youth are at increased risk for chronic diseases later in life.
(http://www.mrc.ac.za/chronic/healthykids.pdf)
SA kids simply aren't eating their fair share of fruit and veg, with 47% of learners studied eating as much cake and biscuits as they do fruit & veg each week. So perhaps's it is true, we've got a sweet tooth that we can't let go of - but what is causing the problem?
Have you tried shopping for healthy foods lately? maybe you've discovered that the healthier meal could well cost you more than a less nutritious alternative. Well then you'd be spot on, the study also suggests that pricing issues are affecting the choices our children make (or the choices we make for our children).
To add to the conundrum of a poor eating plan, our nation's children and youth 'most leisurable activity' has cellphone usage polling highest - with the scary statistic of about 40% of learners getting in little to no moderate or vigorous activity each week.
So the picture doesn't look great but hey! bring on the challenge!
At Bottomup we keep searching for creative ways to influence our nation's young people, in the last three years our staff and volunteers have risen to the occasion by implementing sporting and physical education programmes, arts and culture extracurricular activities in schools as well as tutoring programmes.
Our goal for next year is to take the lessons we've learnt from starting up until now and to begin offering these services as part of complete 'packages' to more schools in 2011.
The key ingredient in making this possible? that's you! our friends and supporters - We offer our programmes to schools at no-charge, but someone still has to bear the costs of making it happen. Without you, alot of the great ideas we've had would have remained just that.
Thank you for sticking with us, let's make helping our nation's young people a lifelong journey together.
Warm Regards,
The Friendly Team - Bottomup
www.facebook.com/bottomup
When it comes to healthy eating, our children just aren't making the grade - scoring a dismal "D" on the MRC's Healthy Active Kids Report Card.
The Healthy Active Kids SA Report Card was developed by leading experts in the field, convened by the Sports Science Institute of South Africa in conjunction with Vitality, and is an analysis of research into South African children's health risks. It found that, alarmingly, South African children and youth are at increased risk for chronic diseases later in life.
SA kids simply aren't eating their fair share of fruit and veg, with 47% of learners studied eating as much cake and biscuits as they do fruit & veg each week. So perhaps's it is true, we've got a sweet tooth that we can't let go of - but what is causing the problem?
Have you tried shopping for healthy foods lately? maybe you've discovered that the healthier meal could well cost you more than a less nutritious alternative. Well then you'd be spot on, the study also suggests that pricing issues are affecting the choices our children make (or the choices we make for our children).
To add to the injury of a poor eating plan, our nation's children and youth 'most leisurable activity' has cellphone usage polling highest - with the scary statistic of about 40% of learners getting in little to no moderate or vigorous activity each week.
So the picture doesn't look great but hey! bring on the challenge!
At Bottomup we keep searching for creative ways to influence our nation's young people, in the last three years our staff and volunteers have risen to the occasion by implementing sporting and physical education programmes, arts and culture extracurricular activities in schools as well as tutoring programmes.
Our goal for next year is to take the lessons we've learnt from starting up until now and to begin offering these services as part of complete 'packages' to more schools in 2011.
The key ingredient in making this possible? that's you! our friends and supporters - We offer our programmes to schools at no-charge, but someone still has to bear the costs of making it happen. Without you, alot of the great ideas we've had would have remained just that.
Thank you for sticking with us - let's make helping our nation's young people a lifelong journey together.
Warm Regards,
The friendly staff at Bottomup
Last Updated (Friday, 22 October 2010 09:14)
