Five day-care centers targeting childhood obesity

The state Department of Health will help day-care centers focus their efforts on preventing childhood obesity.

Through the Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care program, five day-care centers in Jefferson County will begin emphasizing healthier eating habits and increased physical activity for children in their programs.

"Ideally, our goal is to not only have this be applied to programs themselves, but to share them with families," said Lori J. Booking, program consultant with the Community Action Planning Council of Jefferson County's Jefferson/Lewis Childcare Project.

The program creates training workshops in the centers to combat childhood obesity and promote personal health, physical activity and healthy eating habits.

Each center will complete a self-assessment, come up with an action plan and evaluate, revise and repeat the process for each of its goals.

Mrs. Booking said small changes, including limiting sugary snacks and drinks, are key for providers to meet their goals.

"One thing I've learned is that even 100 percent fruit juice has as many calories as a soda," she said.

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Day Care, 320 W. Lynde St., has participated in the program for only a month but already has changed the amount of juice given to children, among other practices.

"We decreased the amount of juice to one time a week, so it also reduces the amount of calories taken in," said Kelly M. Grass, the center's director. "Before, they had juice just about every day with a snack."

Mrs. Grass said she also obtained a $900 Eat Well Play Hard grant from Jefferson County Public Health to purchase water coolers for all six classrooms. Improving the outside play area, installing a bicycle path and purchasing bicycles and a balance beam are a few of the physical activity improvement ideas.

"It's a work in progress," she said.

Other day-care centers that will participate in the program are Stay N Play Day Care Center, 9305 Route 11, Adams; First Step Day Care Center, 317 Washington St.; Jefferson Campus Care, 1220 Coffeen St.; and Natasha's Kiddie Shack Daycare, 31902 Route 3, Great Bend.

Each center can reach its goals through workshops and technical assistance provided by Mrs. Booking. Although the program's contract ends Sept. 30, Mrs. Booking said, each center will be able to continue the self-assessments and reviews since they will have all necessary program materials.