Let kids in the kitchen
In September, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched a $25 million project that, alongside community interventions, aims to train children to improve their health habits by themselves. One tactic teaches elementary school students to prepare simple, healthy snacks. Showing a younger child how to make uncomplicated recipes builds self-confidence and encourages healthier choices, explains Hoelscher, who is leading part of the CDC project.
Make it work for you: Show even very young children how to prepare snacks like a bowl of non-sugary cereal with berries or a whole-wheat, peanut butter sandwich with carrot sticks. Keep the supplies on the lowest shelves so they don’t have to ask for help.
Take it step by step
A University of Missouri campaign gave pedometers to fifth-graders in an effort to teach them to create and meet their own health goals. After a year, the students were more confident in their ability to cut back on television, drink less soda and exercise every day, according to a study in the Journal of Extension. The project focused on self-efficacy, and, on their own, some of the students ended up
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