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Information on the Program
It is well documented that childhood obesity has become a public health epidemic in the United States. Results from the 2009 Oregon Healthy Teens Survey indicate that over 24 percent of 8th and 11th graders are overweight or obese. Most experts agree that physical inactivity, overconsumption of calories, and poor dietary habits are the root causes of obesity, and that there is a widespread need to promote regular physical exercise and better eating habits among children. In response to this need, the Linus Pauling Institute, in collaboration with KidSpirit (a program in OSU's College of Health and Human Sciences aimed at improving the skills, lifestyle, and social development of children of all ages, abilities, and cultural backgrounds), is developing Cooking Fun & Play, an afterschool program, for elementary and middle school students, which will be offered in three ten-week sessions during the school year. To make this afterschool program accessible to all students, program fees will be minimal or waived for students of low-income families (reduced and free lunch program), and the program will be held at Osborn Aquatic Center and Linus Pauling Middle School, since all elementary schools in Corvallis provide a school bus to the Boys & Girls Club (located next to the aquatic center and the middle school). After each session, children will receive a cookbook containing all the recipes of the meals and snacks they learned to prepare.
The main objective of Cooking Fun & Play is to improve children's lifestyle habits by teaching them the importance of a healthy diet, familiarize them with preparing healthful meals, and increase their level of physical activity. Since many experts agree that health-related behaviors are developed during childhood, we believe our program will have a lasting impact on these children's health into adulthood.
On two afternoons per week, students will learn about the importance of healthy eating, such as the health benefits of eating plenty of fruits and vegetables and substituting whole-grain foods for refined-grain foods. Students will also learn to identify which foods are beneficial to their health and well-being and which foods should be consumed in moderation or avoided, in particular highly processed, calorie-dense, nutrient-poor foods. Through hands-on teaching, the students will learn to follow a recipe and cook their own meal, learn about kitchen safety, develop cooking skills, plan a menu, and put together a grocery shopping list. We will teach the children not only how to cook meals that are affordable, but also meals that are healthful and nutritious. Parents and guardians are encouraged to participate in the cooking sessions so that these skills can be implemented into the family’s daily routine to improve the dietary habits of the entire family. The children will be sent home with health and nutrition information, easy and affordable recipes, and other useful information.
On the other two afternoons per week, the students will participate in fun physical activity games that are non-competitive, don't require athletic skills, and are designed to attract also those children who typically shy away from competitive sports or have never been involved in recreational sports in the past. Students will also participate in weekly swim lessons and learn about water safety at Osborn Aquatic Center. Since drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury death for ages 8 to 11 years in Oregon (7%) and the U.S. (10%), it is important for children to be able to swim and to be safe in and around swimming pools, rivers, and lakes (National Center for Injury Prevention Control, CDC, 2007). On both afternoons, the students will also learn how to plan and prepare healthy snacks and explore why they need to fuel their bodies when they are exercising.
Through these valuable experiences, participants will gain the confidence needed to make healthful food choices and to cook for themselves and other members of their family. In addition, participants will learn that exercising can be fun and will make them feel better, healthier, and stronger.
The program will be offered in three ten-week sessions in the fall, winter, and spring term. We anticipate serving 150 children, hiring four undergraduate students per session, and utilizing 30 undergraduate students as interns or volunteers.
Photos from Fall Session 2011.
SponsorsStarker Forests, Inc.
The Kiwanis Club of Corvallis
First Alternative Natural Foods Co-op
