Since the mid 1980s the percentage of overweight young people has more than doubled in the United States, chiefly due to the impact of children’s diet and physical activity patterns. Supersizing is becoming a norm of fast-food menu ordering, and television or computer games take up much of children’s leisure time. That’s why Iowa State University Extension and citizens in southwest Iowa decided to address their fitness and nutrition issues.
With a grant from General Mills, they developed an innovative youth program called Food and Fitness Craze to address this regional nutrition challenge. The need for nutrition education became even more apparent after a survey of a sample of 4-H clubs showed that local community club refreshments often were high in fat and sugar and that physical activity within the community club experience was limited.
“We talked about how we could make our 4-H meeting snacks healthier and how we could add some fun activities and games to the meetings so we could get everyone up and moving,” said Devonne Blankenship, a 14-year-old 4-H’er from Mills County.
Devonne participated in the Food and Fitness Craze program as a teen ambassador. She took part in a special nutrition training program that enabled her to bring back valuable nutrition information and fun activities to her 4-H club, the Balfour Barnstormers.
“We went from having cookies and pop for our club snack to more nutritious things like more cheeses and veggies,” Devonne said. Knowledge she gained from the Food and Fitness Craze program also benefited her on a personal level. “I lost 15 pounds and I feel great. Nutrition really can make a difference,” she said.
“They found out the healthy stuff isn’t always icky,” stated Devonne’s mother, Tracy Blankenship. Also the leader of their 4-H club, Tracy was thrilled with the program and the leadership opportunity it provided for her daughter.
“The Food and Fitness Craze teen ambassador program really put her out in front of people, learning to teach in a fun way.”
Tracy was pleased with what the program brought to their 4-H club. “Our attendance has always been really good, but this increased our members’ involvement in meetings and in learning about nutrition. After the business part of our 4-H meeting, we now give them an hour for activities and games. With the new fitness games, they’ve learned the age differences no longer matter. They all interact, with the older members helping and guiding the younger members.”
Food and Fitness Craze facts
• 36 counties across the state participated in the program in 2004
• 373 adult volunteers and 236 teen volunteers were trained to lead the activities
• 5, 266 youth across the state got up and started moving
• 3, 880 youth received education about nutrition, fitness or health
-30-