As a mom, I make a lot of decisions about what my kids and family will eat and what activities we’ll participate in, which can have a lot of impact on the health of the whole family. This unique effect of a mom’s decisions on the health of kids and families is one of the reasons that the Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP) reaches out to moms to encourage milk consumption. It’s also one of the reasons that the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation and other organizations are providing resources to help moms make healthier choices for their families.
IDFA is a member of the
Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation, which in 2010 enabled 16 food and beverage companies to come together in support of the First Lady’s fight against childhood obesity. HWCF made a commitment to reduce 1 trillion calories in the marketplace by the end of 2012 and 1.5 trillion by the end of 2015.
It is appropriate to figure out what we can do to make mom’s life easier during the month when we all are celebrating our moms. After all, she is often on the front lines of family health. From menu planning and food shopping to meal preparation and family activities, mom knows what’s best for her family and how best to work all of this change into her active, healthy lifestyle.
The commitment to reduce calories from the marketplace was in an effort to provide more choices to moms and dads.
Armed with new options and marketplace solutions, here then are five ways moms everywhere are making a big difference in the fight against childhood obesity.
1) Moms know the time is right to make active, healthy lifestyle changes.
There has never been more information available to support moms who want to make healthful changes in their families lives. New labeling, food options and online communities full of free resources, such as
TogetherCounts.com, make balancing calories and physical activity more achievable for families.
2) Moms are making balanced meals that are lower in calories by making small changes in their family diets.
The food industry has increased zero- and lower-calorie food options, and moms have noticed. In fact, a
recent report concluded better-for-you food sales are growing faster than traditional options. Moms have asked for healthful choices for their families and are voting for them with their shopping baskets.
3) Moms make sure meals and snacks include kid-friendly, smaller-portion sizes.
From lunch boxes to play dates, portion-control foods are turning up everywhere, and moms are making subtle changes without compromising taste and convenience of favorite foods.
4) Moms take advantage of more choices lower-calorie items when dining out.
More and more favorite restaurants offer lower-calorie menus with greater choice on children’s menus, and sales are up nationwide compared to those with limited options.
5) Moms are engaging kids in the choices!
From shopping to cooking to packing lunch boxes, moms are teaching their children from a young age how to develop healthy habits and how to own their choices.
We celebrate the exciting transformation taking hold in the marketplace and the millions of moms bringing it home to the dinner table. How are you celebrating this Mother’s Day?
