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A State Dinner Just for Kids!
Calling all young chefs: Here's your chance to share your favorite delicious and nutritious lunch recipe with First Lady Michelle Obama and all of the White House Chefs!
With the overwhelming success of the inaugural Healthy Lunchtime Challenge & Kids' "State Dinner" in 2012, First Lady Michelle Obama is again teaming up with Epicurious, the U.S. Department of Education, and the Department of Agriculture to host a Healthy Lunchtime Challenge. We're inviting parents or guardians and their children, ages 8-12 to submit an original lunch recipe that is healthy, affordable, and tasty, with the opportunity to be invited to attend a Kids' "State Dinner" here at the White House. We will even be serving a selection of the winning healthy recipes.
The rules are simple: All entrants are encouraged to reference the MyPlate nutritional guidelines to ensure recipes meet healthy standards. Entries should represent each of the food groups, either in one dish or as parts of a lunch meal, including fruit, veggies, whole grains, protein and low-fat dairy foods.
You've got until May 12th, so get cooking and submit your recipe online at: recipechallenge.epicurious.com.
So everybody get creative! Send us your best dishes and help your family and friends eat healthy delicious meals!! See you at the White House! #letsmove.
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Celebrate in May
May is National Barbecue Month, National Bike Month, National Hamburger Month, National Photograph Month, Older Americans Month, National Physical Fitness and Sports Month and National Salad Month. Weekly celebrations include: Week 1: Nurse's Week, Week 3: National Bike Week and National Police Week. Other special occasions and wacky days are:
8th - No Socks Day
9th - National Train Day
11th - Eat What You Want Day
13th - Frog Jumping Day
14th - Dance Like A Chicken Day
15th - National Chocolate Chip Day
16th - Love a Tree Day and Wear Purple for Peace Day
18th - International Museum Day
20th - Be a Millionaire Day and Pick Strawberries Day
25th - Tap Dance Day
27th - Memorial Day
29th - Learn About Composting Day
30th - Water a Flower Day
31st - Save Your Hearing Day
Click here for more information about these and other wacky days in May. Special programming and activities can be scheduled for several to celebrate these fun and crazy days.
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This Month in History - May
On May 8 in 1794, the US Post Office was established and in 1919 on May 27, the pop up toaster was patented. To find about what else happened in May history, click here. Use some of these historical happenings to teach children about history.
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On average, children spend over 7 1/2 hours in front of a screen on a daily basis. Only 1 in 3 children achieves the minimum amount of physical activity they need each day. After school directors and staff have a great opportunity to introduce physical activities that can have lifelong impact. During May, National Physical Fitness and Sports month, find new ways to engage and keep children physically active. Click here for activity tips.
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The health of children and youth in New York has drastically declined over the last ten years. In 2003, 15.3% of children in New York were overweight or obese. By 2007, this number had jumped to 32.9%. Fewer schools offer physical education, while young people's screen time (time spent watching television and using computers, phones, mp3 players, and other handheld devices) has dramatically increased.
Children living in low income homes and Black and Latino children have higher rates of obesity and lower access to nutritious foods. Research shows that poor health has a wide range of consequences, including higher risk of illness and higher incidents of risk-taking and negative behaviors. Moreover, various studies show that academic success is linked with good health because physical activity and fitness levels contribute to higher levels of self-esteem and lower levels of anxiety and stress, two factors that have an impact on learning. Evidence shows that access to fitness and nutrition resources encourages healthy behavior, thereby contributing to the positive development of children and youth. Download the full policy brief "Expanding the Role of Afterschool Programs in Promoting Health and Wellness; New York State Afterschool Network (NYSAN) Policy Brief, Winter 2010 here.
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News from the School Age Director's Network
Meetings continue to be held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. The
May meeting is Tuesday May 21 at KEEPS, Inc. at 10 am. Contact Samantha Mars at SADNpresident@gmail.com for additional information. | 
