A project that empowers kids to make healthy
lifestyle choices, helping to reverse the growth of
childhood obesity and related health issues.

 

 


The Food & Fitness Fun Fair took place on Saturday, March 6, 2010 at the Salvation Army in Montclair.  The Kids in the Kitchen-themed fair included stations that guide children ages 5 to 12 and their parents through a full day of healthy choices. Activities and demonstrations will cover breakfast, lunch, snack time and dinner, helping families discover affordable alternatives to improve their nutritional intake and increase energy with diet and exercise.  The Food & Fitness Fun Fair could not be possible without the generous contributions from our donors.

About Kids In The Kitchen
The Junior League of Montclair-Newark, Inc. (JLMN) Provisional Class will host a one day health fair for the JLMN Service area featuring the the Association of Junior Leagues International Inc.'s (AJLI) Kids in the Kitchen program to combat childhood obesity. By working with community partners like COPE Center in Montclair, the project aims to encourage children and parents to come together to create healthier lifestyles.
  
The Kids in the Kitchen initiative began in 2006, with the goal of engaging youngsters in the preparation of healthy meals to help educate families about nutrition.  Today, Junior Leagues in more than 200 locations promote sound nutritional practices among children by partnering with community organizations, chefs and nutritionists to provide lessons and demonstrations on the preparation of healthy meals and snacks.
 
The 2009-2010 JLMN Provisional Class is excited to bring Kids in the Kitchen to local children who are involved with community organizations like COPE Center.  COPE, which stands for Counseling, Outreach, Prevention, and Education, is a nonprofit agency that services Essex County.  It was founded over 30 years ago by the Junior League of Montclair and the United Way of North Essex.  The center is dedicated to providing quality behavioral health-care services that are affordable, accessible, and responsive to individual, family, and community needs. Its counselors work in the areas of drug and alcohol abuse, families in crises, problems in daily living, and AIDS.
 
Studies show that children with a family member in crisis or recovery are more likely to engage in risky behaviors, such as substance abuse and smoking. They are also less likely to succeed in school than their peers, may have suicidal thoughts and tendencies, and can make poor eating, sleeping and exercise choices.  Moreover, recent data suggests that families in the recovery process find greater success when together they adopt a holistic approach that includes healthy eating and exercise habits, sharing in regular family meals, and quality time together.
  
More information about the AJLI’s Kids in the Kitchen program is available at http://kidsinthekitchen.org.  To learn about COPE center in Montclair, please visit www.copecenter.net.