Building Healthy Foundations with HEPA

March 19, 2015 - PRLog -- In the U.S., 18% of children aged 6-11 are obese. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years. The YMCA of Orange County understands the importance of reducing the childhood obesity rate and has established healthy eating and physical activity standards (HEPA) at their 50+ childcare locations as a step towards better health for the community.

As part of the Y’s commitment to the HEPA standards, certain rules will govern all Y childcare centers across Orange County, including:

Only offering healthy options for Y-provided snacks and meals
Providing fruits/vegetables at all meals and snacks
Only providing milk and water as beverages
Setting limits on screen time
Providing daily physical activity offerings, outdoors when possible
Have Y staff model healthy food and beverage choices and active play

In addition to the above rules, Y staff will offer healthier options such as whole grain bread and nonfat milk, whenever possible.

The YMCA of Orange County believes that healthy eating and daily physical activities are an integral part of their youth programs and afterschool curriculum. The YMCA strives to provide healthy choices for children in order to establish a healthy foundation for living, both in and outside of school.

“Enforcing the HEPA standards at all YMCA childcare sites is an essential step to the YMCA’s commitment to healthy living. Teaching children how to eat healthy and stay active while they are young is a priceless lesson they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.” says Jeanne Colwell, Area Manager of North Orange County childcare at the YMCA.

For more information about YMCA childcare, visit www.ymcaoc.org/asc.