Sacramento Head Start Alumni Association

Nutrition & Your Child Newsletter -- Volume 2, 2003

Jul 16, 2003

NUTRITION & YOUR CHILD
Volume 2, 2003


NUTRITION & YOUR CHILD is a science-based newsletter produced by the
ARS/USDA Children's Nutrition Research Center (CNRC) at Baylor College of
Medicine and electronically distributed in cooperation with USDA's
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) to
enhance the research base for educational programming.

Current and back issues of Nutrition & Your Child, including
easy-to-download "newsletter formatted" Adobe Acrobat (pdf) files, are available
on the CNRC website. See: http://www.kidsnutrition.org (click on the
Newsletter Index)


INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

#1 Websites Lead Boy Scouts To Better Health
#2 Sun-blocking Babies Leads To Need For Vitamin D
#3 Study Aims to Understand Teen Inactivity
#4 Savvy Snack Bar Marketing Could 'Ad' Up to Better Nutrition for Kids
(Posters developed for this project are available at
www.kidsnutrition.org)
#5 Q&A: Any tips for getting my teens to eat healthier this summer?
#6 Houston-area Volunteer Opportunities
#7 Editor's Notes

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Editor's Note: Interest in the CNRC's interactive Children's BMI
Percentile Graph/Calculator and Children's Energy Needs Calculator, which
were released with the Volume 1, 2003 issue of NYC, has been
overwhelming. In response to reader requests, we are currently seeking funding to
make these tools available for downloading to hand-help devices. The
tools are currently available on the CNRC web site: www.kidsnutrition.org


#1 WEBSITES LEAD BOY SCOUTS TO BETTER HEALTH

Houston-area Boy Scouts are learning to eat healthy and be more
physically active -- while playing on the Internet to earn achievement badges.

"Our 5-A-Day and Fit for Life Achievement Badge programs are an
exciting way for Boy Scout Troop leaders to promote healthy habits among their
Scouts," said Dr. Tom Baranowski, a professor of pediatrics and
behavioral nutrition at Baylor College of Medicine.

Baranowski's team, which conducts behavior-change research, developed
the two badge programs in cooperation with Houston-based Sam Houston
Area Council of Boy Scout of America.

"Most of the badge activities are completed through interactive web
sites created specifically for each program," he said.

Scouts enrolled in the 5-A-Day badge program learn about fruits,
100-percent fruit juice and veggies while setting and accomplishing
behavioral goals to earn points toward their badge. Behavioral goals include
such activities as making a recipe at home or eating at least one more
serving of fruit or vegetables at a specific meal or snack.

Scouts enrolled in the Fit for Life program learn about physical
activity while setting and achieving activity goals, such as playing
basketball or walking for a specific length of time, to earn their badge.

In addition to the web site activities, Scouts participate in short
badge-related activities led by Baranowski's research staff during eight
regular troop meetings.

According to Baranowski, nearly 175 Houston-area Boy Scouts from more
than 15 troops have earned a Fit for Life or 5-A-Day badge over the past
year. Scout troops also benefited from participating in the programs,
with each receiving a check for $1,000 upon completion of the program.

Encouraged by the results, the program is being opened to an additional
26 Houston-area troops for the Fall 2003 programs.

Once the local testing is completed, Baranowski hopes to roll out the
programs nationwide through the Boy Scouts of America organization.

"We know that simply telling kids that eating fruits and vegetables and
being physically active will prevent obesity, cancer, heart disease,
and diabetes won't motivate them to make healthier choices," Baranowski
said.

"We believe that programs that link healthy behaviors to something that
kids already want - like achievement badges for Boy Scouts, and that
delivers the message in a fun, interactive way, like playing on the
Internet, will."

*********************************
Deadline for new troop enrollment is Aug. 15, 2003. Additional
information and a troop leader applications form can be found at
http://www.kidsnutrition.org/boyscouts or call 713-798-6737.

Editor's Note: Behavior change research explores why children eat what
they eat, participate in the physical activities that they do, and how
to motivate children to adopt healthier lifestyles.


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#2 SUN-BLOCKING BABIES LEADS TO NEED FOR VITAMIN D

The lack of sunshine exposure in many babies and small children has led
to an upsurge in vitamin D deficiency and rickets.

"Since we don't want infants and children unprotected in the sun, we
are now recommending vitamin D drops for all babies," said Dr. Steven
Abrams, a professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in
Houston. "In addition, there is increasing recognition that maintaining
adequate vitamin D intake is important for all ages, from infants to the
elderly."

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently revised its guidelines to
recommend that all infants from 2 months of age, children and
adolescents receive 200 IU of vitamin D per day. The previous recommendation was
supplementation for exclusively breastfed infants at risk for
developing rickets, a soft-bone disease.

Infant formulas and cow's milk are fortified with vitamin D at the
levels needed by infants and toddlers. However, breast milk does not
contain enough vitamin D for some babies, especially those with dark skin who
have limited sunshine exposure.

Once called the "sunshine vitamin," vitamin D is a hormone required for
proper calcium absorption and bone mineralization.

"The body can make all the vitamin D it needs when the skin is exposed
to sunlight," said Abrams, also a researcher at the Children's
Nutrition Research Center at Baylor. "However, the dangers of skin cancer have
caused us to recommend that everyone, including young infants, be
protected with a sunblock when exposed to sunlight. That sunblock also
prevents the production of vitamin D."

Vitamin D is not easily obtained through diet. Certain types of fish
are good sources, and some soy beverages, fruit juices, and ready-to-eat
cereals are fortified with the vitamin. Checking food labels is the
best way to see if vitamin D has been added.

While the emphasis on vitamin D's benefits has focused on its role in
calcium absorption and strengthening bones in children, Abrams said more
evidence is pointing to the health benefits of the vitamin throughout
life.

"It may have a role in preventing some diseases, like cancer," he said.
"And adults who take calcium without taking vitamin D may not be
getting the most benefit from the calcium."

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#3 STUDY AIMS TO UNDERSTAND TEEN INACTIVITY


Simply thinking they're "just not athletic" could be keeping
"couch-potato" kids rooted to the sofa.

"People tend to limit their activity level based on how they see
themselves athletically," said CNRC behavioral scientist Dr. Cheryl Braselton
Anderson. "To do vigorous exercise, like running, swimming, or
cycling, or any type of physical activity, you have to see yourself as a
person who does these things."

Anderson believes that the tendency to be active (or inactive) is
maintained by a feedback loop, with people's "athletic identity" determining
what activities they do, and the activities they do influencing how
they see themselves.

"People who develop a positive athletic identity are more likely to
stay active over the years, while having a poor athletic identity is
related to inactivity," said Anderson, an assistant professor of pediatrics
at Baylor College of Medicine.

Anderson also believes that individuals who have a positive athletic
identity likely developed it in childhood or adolescence.

To test her theories, Anderson is launching a 4-year study that will
follow over 900 middle school students as they make the transition to
high school. Research shows this period tends to coincide with a marked
drop in kids' level of physical activity. The study will measure whether
the teens' athletic self-perceptions change over time and if so, what
influences this.

The study is being funded by a $1.2 million grant from the National
Cancer Institute/National Institutes of Health, where increasing physical
activity and decreasing sedentary behavior has become a research
priority.

Anderson hopes the study's findings will eventually lead to more school
and community-based programs that help less athletically talented
children develop more positive athletic identities.

"To change ingrained identities like "I'm a poor student" or "I'm not
athletic," kids need the opportunity to have positive experiences," she
said. "Although I'm a big supporter of team and individual competitive
sports, not everyone can be on the 'A team' or the 'B team'. We have to
make a place for all kids."

Anderson also believes that children need to know they can be
physically active without being a star athlete.

"Kids have to know it's OK to run slow and OK to be the last one," she
said. "They don't have to be Lance Armstrong to ride a bicycle."

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#4 SAVVY SNACK BAR MARKETING COULD 'AD' UP TO BETTER NUTRITION FOR KIDS

CNRC behavior scientists are taking a page out of the food marketers'
handbook to entice middle school students to eat healthier.

In a study involving more than 10,000 sixth, seventh, and eighth
graders, marketing research strategies commonly used by food companies to
sell snacks like soda and chips are being used to make school snack bar
offerings healthier and increase students' fruit and vegetable
consumption.

"Figuring out how to get kids to buy healthy foods like fruits and
vegetables with their lunch money is as much a marketing challenge as it is
a health issue," said Dr. Karen Cullen, an assistant professor of
pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine.

According to Cullen, kids' consumption of fruits and vegetables slips
significantly between elementary and middle school, a time when they
begin having access to snack bars. Snack bars, favored for their
convenience, tend to offer foods like pizza, burgers, fries and chips -- but no
fruit or low-fat vegetables.

"The experience of foodservice managers is that kids won't buy fruits
or low-fat vegetables at the snack bar," she said. "We decided to see
whether we could change that."

Cullen's team put on their "marketing caps" to kick off the study.
Their goal: learn what middle school students - their "target market" -
thought.

"A basic tenet of marketing is the need to understand your customer,"
she said. "We needed to hear from students what fruits and vegetables
they liked and what they thought they would buy -- and why."

Through focus groups and written surveys, the team gained important
marketing insights, such as kids who liked apples and oranges wouldn't buy
a whole piece of fruit because it was hard to eat or messy. On the
other hand, apple slices offered with a small side of caramel dip got
enthusiastic approval.

Armed with this knowledge, Cullen's team crafted a two-pronged
marketing plan.

First, the team worked with foodservice managers to develop healthy
kid-friendly "products," such as salad "shakers," veggie and dip "grab
bags", and bananas with a small side of chocolate dip, for the snack bars.

Then they launched an "advertising campaign", consisting of poster
"ads" and cafeteria table tents.

"The 'ads' connected eating the new snack bar fruit and vegetable
'products' with the things that kids told us they want most, like friends,
being cool, and having fun," Cullen said.

These are the same feelings that snack food companies tap into so
effectively with ads for high fat/high sugar foods aimed at kids.

"Marketing is used to sell everything from shoes to sodas to kids. Why
shouldn't it be used to sell healthy foods at school snack bars, too?"
she said.

****************************************
Editor's Note: The posters developed for this study are available on
the CNRC website. See:
www.kidsnutrition.org/consumer/archives/posters.htm

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#5 Q&A: Any tips for getting my teens to eat healthier this summer?

Stock the kitchen with healthy, easy-to-eat foods that your kids like,
say CNRC nutritionists. They offer these tips:
**Let kids help shop for healthy mid-day meal and snack foods.
**Stock the refrigerator with individual cartons of 100 percent fruit
juice, small cans of fruit with pop-top lids, and pre-cut fruits and
vegetables and partner with a favorite dip. Freeze grapes and slices of
bananas for bite-size "cool" treats and fruit juice "cubes" to float in
mineral water.
**Keep healthy crunchy snacks on hand, such as pretzels, breadsticks,
whole-wheat crackers, ready-to-eat cereals, baked "chips," and low-fat
microwave popcorn.
**Think grab 'n' go for lunchtime fixin's. Stock up on whole wheat
bread, low-fat deli meats and peanut butter for sandwiches; flour
tortillas and low-fat cheeses for microwavable quesadillas; ready-to-eat salad
mixes and pre-cooked chicken breasts for salads; and low-fat yogurt and
granola to top off fruit snacks.
**Don't forget the healthy thirst quenchers. Good choices include 100
percent fruit juice, bottled water, mineral water, and low-fat flavored
milk.


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#7 HOUSTON-AREA VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Houston-area residents are invited to participate in the following
nutrition research projects designed to help CNRC scientists learn more
about the nutritional needs of children. Transportation/parking available.
For more information, visit the CNRC web site, www.bcm.tmc.edu/cnrc/.

BREASTFEEDING: PUMP UP THE VOLUME! Breastfeeding mothers with babies
less than 8 weeks old may be eligible. Mothers will receive an electric
breast pump of their choice (~$250 value) and free consultation with a
certified lactation consultant. The study will compare the
effectiveness of different breast pumps and strategies used to increase milk
production. Call Cynthia, 713-798-7005.

CALCIUM ABSORPTION IN INFANCY
Healthy, full term infants, from birth to 2 months of age, are needed
for a new study comparing calcium absorption from breast milk versus a
new formula. Breastfeeding mothers will receive free use of an electric
breast pump; mothers of formula fed infants will receive free formula.
Mothers may enroll before or after delivery. Call 713-798-7085.

BEEF STUDY: Beef Eating Enhances Fe (Iron)
Children 4 to 8 years of age are needed for a new study investigating
how soy and beef proteins affect iron and zinc absorption in the body.
In order to participate, children should like to eat Frito chili pie.
Stipend. Call Keli, 713-798-7085.

BREAST ENGORGEMENT STUDY
New mothers are needed for a study of breast engorgement. The study is
designed to compare different breast pumps and strategies used to treat
engorgement. Mothers may enroll before or after delivery. Call
Cynthia, 713-798-7005.

OSTEOPOROSIS PREVENTION USING SOY (OPUS)
Normal weight, post-menopausal women between the ages of 40 and 60 are
needed for a, two-year study designed to evaluate the benefits of soy
isoflavones in the prevention of bone loss. Call 713-798-6783.

HYPERTENSION PREVENTION USING SOY
Normal weight, post-menopausal women, 40 to 60 years of age, with
systolic blood pressure between 130 and 160 mmHg and diastolic blood
pressure between 80 and 100 mmHg, and who are not on any hypertensive
medication, are needed for a 6-week study evaluating the benefits of soy
isoflavones in hypertension prevention. Call 713-798-6783.

BABIES FIRST STUDY
Breast-fed and bottle-fed infants, 2 to 11 months of age, and their
mothers are needed for a study on infant eating patterns, food
preferences, and growth. Stipend. Call 713-798-6740.

METABOLISM STUDIES
Normal-weight children ages 6 to 9 and 13 to 17, overweight teens ages
13 to 16, and normal-weight, healthy adults ages 18 to 35 are needed
for metabolism studies. Stipend. Call Andrea, 713-798-7083.

BOY SCOUT PROGRAMS
Boy Scouts ages 11 to 14 and their troops are invited to participate in
two new Internet-based badge programs that focus on healthy eating and
physical activity. Contact Andrea, 713-798-0509 or Ariella,
713-798-7140, or visit http://www.kidsnutrition.org/boyscouts

BONEMAX
Boys and girls ages 9 to 12 are needed for a one-year
calcium-metabolism study. Stipend. Call Keli, 713-798-7085, or Holly, 713-798-7166.

VIVA LA FAMILIA
Hispanic families with children 4 to 18 years of age are needed for a
study aimed at understanding the factors causing childhood obesity.
Stipend. Call Marilyn, 713-798-7002.

BREAST-FEEDING STUDY
Pregnant women in their last trimester who plan to breast-feed for at
least three months and new mothers currently breast-feeding infants
between 2 weeks and 2 months of age are needed for a study of breast-milk
sugar production. Stipend. Call Andrea, 713-798-7083.

BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY OF GROWTH
Children who have previously participated in any CNRC studies involving
body composition measurements and are presently less than 22 years old,
as well as Hispanic, African-American, and Caucasian young adults, 19
to 22 years of age, are needed for this study. Stipend. Call Marilyn,
713-798-7002.

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#8 EDITOR'S NOTES

Through Nutrition & Your Child, CNRC nutrition scientists share their
ongoing research and offer useful nutrition information to those
interested in the nutritional care and feeding of children.

We encourage you to forward this newsletter to your friends (and
suggest that they subscribe--it's FREE). If you have questions or comments
regarding this newsletter or topics you would like to see addressed,
e-mail me directly: joanc@bcm.tmc.edu. Thank you for subscribing!

Joan Carter Clark, RD/LD, MBA
Editor

REPRINTS
You may reprint any information found in this issue of Nutrition & Your
Child without permission. Please credit the USDA/ARS Children's
Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine for any materials you
reproduce.

BACK ISSUES
Back issues of Nutrition & Your Child are available on the CNRC
website, http://www.kidsnutrition.org.


ABOUT THE CNRC
Located in the Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX, the Children's
Nutrition Research Center (CNRC) is a USDA/Agricultural Research
Service(USDA/ARS) research facility operated under a cooperative agreement with
Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital.

The CNRC is one of six USDA/ARS human nutrition research centers. Our
mission is to define the nutrient needs of healthy children from
conception through adolescence, and in pregnant and nursing women. To learn
more about CNRC research or post-doctoral fellowship opportunities, visit
our web site: http://www.kidsnutrition.org.

DISCLAIMER
The CNRC is committed to increasing consumer awareness of the role of
childhood nutrition on health and life-long well-being and of the
contributions of center scientists.

This information is provided as a community service. Content is
presented as an educational resource and should not take the place of advice
and recommendations of your personal physician. If you suspect you have
(or your child has) a health problem, visit your health care
professional.

Links to other web sites are considered an extended service but are not
controlled or endorsed by the CNRC or Baylor College of Medicine.

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