Sinai Health System Observes Childhood Obesity Awareness Month with Healthy Cooking Class

CHICAGO - Sept. 26, 2014 - PRLog -- (CHICAGO) --  September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month and on Monday, September 29, Sinai Health System (http://www.sinai.org) will host an invitation-only cooking demonstration for children in Sinai Children’s Hospital’s pediatric weight management program. The class will be held in partnership with Bella Cuisine (http://www.bella-cuisine.com), a non-profit organization that encourages children to make healthy eating a part of their daily lives.

The class will be held at Sinai Community Institute,  2653 W Ogden Avenue, beginning at 4:30 PM.  Bella Cuisine chefs will be serving up: mini turkey burgers on whole wheat buns, baked sweet potato fries and a very berry spinach smoothie. For parents of the participants,  representatives from Sinai Children’s Hospital’s pediatric weight management group will host a roundtable discussion focused on preventing obesity and related illnesses.

In the past four decades, obesity rates in the United States have soared among all age groups with young people being impacted in alarming fashion. According to the organization COAM (http://www.healthierkidsbrighterfutures.org), childhood obesity has increased more than fourfold among those ages 6 to 11. More than 23 million children and teenagers in the United States ages 2 to 19 are obese or overweight, a statistic that health and medical experts consider an epidemic. This epidemic puts nearly one third of America’s children at early risk for Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and even stroke – conditions usually associated with adulthood.  Even greater disparities exist among young Hispanics and children of color.

Sinai Health System operates a Pediatric Weight Management Program that offers access to pediatricians, a registered nutritionist dietitian, psychotherapist, and physical therapist for children and families seeking healthy lifestyle changes.

“Caregivers at Sinai Health System are very aware of these grim statistics, especially as they relate to the communities we serve,” says Bridget Gamble of  Sinai Health System.  “We were pleased to find a partner in Bella Cuisine who has the same commitment to educating children about the alternative food choices available to them, and empowering them to lead the healthy lives they deserve.”

Bella Cuisine Kids Cooking Club consists of local chefs who volunteer their time to travel throughout the community and offer healthy lifestyle cooking classes in a safe and nurturing environment. Their professional chefs guide young people through each healthy recipe step-by-step and provide them with "chefs' secrets" to making healthy food irresistible

Media Alert

What:          Cooking demonstration in recognition of National Childhood    Obesity Awareness Month

When:          Monday, September 29, 2014

         4:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Where: Sinai Community Institute

         2720 W. 15^th St.

         Chicago, IL.  60608

Why:          Educate young people on the preparation of healthy, delicious food

For information on this event, please contact Bridget Gamble at bridget.gamble@sinai.org (mailto:dianne.hunter@sinai.org) or 773-257-5720.

About Sinai Health System

System Sinai Health System, a Chicago-based private, not-for-profit organization, is comprised of seven member organizations: Mount Sinai Hospital, Holy Cross Hospital, Sinai Children’s Hospital, Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital, Sinai Medical Group, Sinai Community Institute and Sinai Urban Health Institute. The system has over 800 physicians on its hospital medical staffs, 695 licensed beds, 100,000+ annual emergency department patient visits and eight physician residency training programs. www.sinai.org