#GimmeFive – Debra Eschmeyer

Publications & Reports

Media:

TEDxManhattan: You Be Watchin’!

6 Truths From TEDxManhattan: Changing the Way We Eat

3 Must-See TEDxManhattan Talks

10 Highlights from TEDxManhattan 2015

‘Let’s Move!’ Chief Weighs In on Taco Tuesday Flap

To Watch: TEDxManhattan 2015

Books

• In The Omnivore’s Dilemma, one of the New York Times Book Review’s Ten Best Books of the Year, Michael Pollan investigates the American way of eating through a natural history of four meals. Browse his other books and articles.
• Michael Moss explores the rise of the processed food industry in Salt Sugar and Fat, winner of the James Beard Foundation Award for Writing and Literature and #1 New York Times Bestseller.

Reports/Studies

• These Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports mention recent data related to reduced obesity rates in young kids (pre-school age) as we’re just starting to see real change.
• While Most See Role for Government in Reducing Childhood Obesity, there is still opposition who believe that the government should not be involved in policy. Pew Research Center’s 2011 national survey shows that Democrats, minorities and the youth are more likely to support government intervention.
• The Food Research and Action Center’s reports on National School Lunch Program: Trends and Factors Affecting Student Participation and School Breakfast Program: Trends and Factors Affecting Student Participation identify the challenges and changes in the National School Lunch Program.
• Food hero, columnist and author Mark Bittman covers policy, agriculture, health, the environment, cooking and eating. Check out his articles and cookbooks.
• The Center for American Progress’ 2010 report on The Significance of Childhood Obesity in Communities of Color explores the increasing obesity rates among ethnic and racial subgroups in the country.

Information

Discussion Questions

• #GimmeFive ways you lead or can lead a healthier life.
• What can parents do to combat negative marketing campaigns aimed at their children?
• What do you feel is the role of advertising in marketing to children?
• Do you think dramatic changes in advertising could solve problems?
• How do we convince children to eat healthy?

Additional Information

• Read this brief document from Let’s Move! which features the facts, the motives and proposed solutions of the campaign.
• FED UP the movie has a wealth of information on issues, resources as well as some not so fun facts.
• The Environmental Working Group’s Good Food On a Tight Budget Guide helps you get the most with your money without sacrificing nutrition and quality of food.
• The Pew Charitable Trusts support The School Modernization Act. Give Schools the Tools to Prepare Healthy, Delicious Meals explains this legislation which would provide better access to kitchen equipment and infrastructure in schools.
• The 69 year old Child Nutrition Act will expire on September 30th. It was last updated in 2010 but on April 15th, Congress will discuss its reauthorization. This Pew Trusts article, Congress Debates Child Nutrition, explores the key factors Congress should consider in their deliberation.
• After launching in 2010, Let’s Move has already accomplished so much. Check out a full list of accomplishments and collaborations.
• The CDC has a lot of of resources on adolescent and school health.
• Food hero, columnist and author Mark Bittman covers policy, agriculture, health, the environment, cooking and eating. Check out his articles and cookbooks.
• Check out Buzzfeed’s article 30 Simple Ways to Get Your Kids to Eat Healthier.

Take Action

8 Things you Can Do To Help America Raise a Healthier Generation of Children

• In celebration of the 5th anniversary of Let’s Move!, take the First Lady’s #GimmeFive challenge. Take to social media and give us five things that you are doing to lead a healthier life. Then, invite your friends and family to join the conversation using #GimmeFive.
• Join a Let’s Move! initiative. Visit here to see which initiatives you can participate in. Whether you’re a public official, an educator, an organization, a chef or simply a concerned citizen, you can get involved and make a difference. See below for some options.
  • Be sure to view the interactive map to see what Let’s Move! activities are happening your local community.
  • Become a Let’s Move! City, Town or County. Contact your local elected official and urge them to sign up.
  • Calling all chefs! Join Chefs Move to Schools which partners chefs with local schools to create healthy school lunch options. Go even further and follow the Let’s Move! 5 Simple Steps to Success.
  • Take the HealthierUS School Challenge, a voluntary certification that recognizes schools participating in the National School Lunch Program that have made efforts to create a healthier environment for students.
  • Join the President’s Active Lifestyle Program.
• Sign up for the Nutrition Action Healthletter, the largest circulation health and nutrition newsletter in North America.
• Keep a food log. Be more mindful of what you are eating every day.
• Write a letter to the PTA, principal or cafeteria coordinator at your local school to see how to improve the meals.
• Start a community garden with Edible Schoolyard to support the edible education field.
• Take the FED UP Challenge and go sugar free for 10 days.
• Go to Change Food’s Tumblr site to share and give us feedback on your experiences.

Campaigns

• The No Kid Hungry campaign seeks to connect low-income families with effective nutrition programs and to educate and empower the families to shop and eat strategically. Take action here.
• The Protect Kids from Junk Food Marketing petition from the Center for Science in the Public Interest urges companies to do more to protect children from unhealthy food marketing.
• Disney announced it will no longer show advertisements for junk food on child-directed programming. Sign the petition to Urge Nickelodeon to follow Disney’s lead and stop advertising junk food to children.