Snack It Up Program Seeks to Fight Childhood Obesity

A new program to combat childhood obesity has been launched in Dallas-Fort Worth that will help provide healthier snacks to area youngsters in some out-of-school programs.

The Snack It Up pilot program was created by Healthy Kids Ouf of School, an initiative of ChildObesity180 at Tufts University in Medford, Mass.
“We developed Snack It Up in response to out-of-school-time program leaders telling us that fruits and vegetables were not easily accessible,” Christina D. Economos, Ph.D., vice chair and director of ChildObesity180, New Balance Chair in Childhood Nutrition, and Associate Professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. Kroger (NYSE: KR) is the first grocery retailer to sign up for the pilot programs in Dallas and in Atlanta, ChildObesity180 said in a release. Kroger will offer discounts to programs such as Pop Warner football leagues and 4-H to promote healthier eating habits.

Snack it Up connects selected out-of-school program with grocery providers to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables for area children who participate in out-of-school activities.
According to ChildObesity180, obesity rates in the United States have more than doubled in children and tripled in adolescents in the past three decades.
The pilot program received funding assistance from Newman’s Own Foundation.

Source: bizjournals.com