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Playing Can Help Combat
Childhood Obesity
(NAPSI)-Play is in peril. Play is quickly disappearing from our children’s lives, and it’s taking a toll on the health and happiness of our children, our families and our communities. Today, children spend less time playing outdoors than those in any other generation, spending instead an average of 7.5 hours a day in front of a screen.
    Lack of play is directly linked to increased childhood obesity--one of the main issues facing the younger generation today. The White House Childhood Obesity Task Force recently issued a report with recommendations on how to “solve the problem of childhood obesity within a generation.” Physical activity and play were cited as key elements. Lack of play is also linked to a decrease in creativity, imagination, problem-solving skills, resiliency and an increase in classroom behavior problems.

    “Play is inherently active and is a long-term, preventative measure for obesity. Kids who play are less likely to develop obesity-related problems. Play is also a critical factor for improving attention, attitudes, creativity, memory and so many other vital learning skills,” said Darell Hammond, CEO and Co-Founder of KaBOOM!, the national nonprofit leading the movement to save play. “We want to restore a culture of play so that playing and being active are a natural part of our lives.”
Saving Play!
    For 15 years, KaBOOM! has led the effort to help save play by constructing innovative, kid-inspired play spaces, using a community-built model that improves the well-being of children as well as the neighborhoods in which they live. “Organizations such as KaBOOM! are necessary not just to the health of our children, but to the health of the entire nation,” said first lady Michelle Obama in a speech at a KaBOOM! playground build in San Francisco.

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Get Your Play On!
    KaBOOM! offers resources to help communities become more playful:
    • Support Your Local Play ground--At playspacefinder.kaboom.org/, neighbors can connect, share, and discuss safety issues and favorite playgrounds.
    • Plan a KaBOOM! Play Day--At playday.kaboom.org, communities can organize fun field-day events that get the whole family active and having fun.
    • Build/Improve a Playground--To build a new playground or to give an existing playground some TLC, kaboom.org offers a free, interactive project planner that helps novices plan and execute playground builds and park improvement projects.
    • Get a Ph.D. in Play--Playschool.kaboom.org offers free online training sessions with child development and play industry experts so that anyone can learn more about the importance of play.
    “Without ample play we will continue to see a decrease in creativity, resiliency and imagination, as well as other vital life skills that help children learn more effectively in school and prepare them for a successful adulthood,” added Hammond.
Celebrate Play!
    Kids need the same opportunities to play that we had growing up. Take your kids to your local park or playground. Get a street blocked off for play or get everyone together to build a playground in your community. Join the movement to save play and help restore the health of our children.
    For more information, visit www.kaboom.org.

Taking Corn Out Of Your Family Diet Can Help Combat Yours and Your
Child Obesity
While I agree almost totally to the article “Playing Can Help Combat Childhood Obesity” on page 5, July 15, 2010 of the High Desert Advocate, I still think the biggest reason Americans have a tendency to get fat (and diabetic) is not really their fault but the policy of big subsidies to the Corn Industry.
    Because of it, corn have become for many years the cheapest filler for the American Food Industry. And corn fillers are everywhere. Next time you buy some food Read the label and reach for the food WITHOUT corn starch, corn syrup, corn flour etc... In fact, some times “Diet Items” are worst for your diet than their regular counterpart. For example, “Light” mayonnaise has less fat BUT is full of corn fillers.    
    Our bodies are not meant to eat corn, not so much anyway. The Europeans have no merit when they are leaner than us, no corn fillers overthere...yet.
In fact we should still let our children have a corn on the cob once in a while or some corn chips with guacamole or nachos, but we should combat the Invisible Corn.
    Cooking for your family from scratch, simple meals at home, not only can save you money but will also insure your control of how much corn go into their food.
Here are a few simple substitutes to the ready foods who will take you only 15-20 minutes  to prepare:

Tomato Sauce
from scratch at home is not much harder than opening a jar and much tastier: just one big can of cubed tomatoes, some olive oil, Italian herbs, salt, black pepper, paprika, may be a sprinkle of crushed hot peppers, cook a few minutes before adding to the cooked pasta  and grated cheese (you can also ad a few sliced mushrooms or black olives to cook in the tomatoes)

Creamy Mushroom Sauce for  chicken:
5 or 6 mushrooms washed/sliced cooked with olive oil, powder or fresh garlic, diced parsley or parsley flakes, salt, pepper, 2 or 3 bay leaves, cooked around the pieces of chicken then take out the meat and set aside, ad some flour steering and adding water as necessary, then ad the chicken back, cook a little longer and, serve on plain pasta or mashed potatoes (this sauce is creamy without dairy products)

Green onions and Black bean sauce for Top Stove Steaks:
4 or 5 green onions, cooked, washed , cleaned and cut in the length, added to a little olive oil (or canola), salt, black pepper, 2 bay leaves, one can of black beans. Start cooking the meat with everything but the beans, then when everything is almost cooked set the steaks aside, then ad the beans to the pan, and a little water, and a little more olive oil if neccesary.  Let cook then place the steaks back in the dish and finish cooking a few minutes more. I like to use “ranch Steaks” for this dish.