The children of today face an unprecedented health crisis:
- Less than 2% of children are eating in line with the food pyramid
- ½ of children between the ages of 2 - 15 have fatty streaks in their arteries, literally, the beginning stages of heart disease
- 30 - 40% of all children born in 2000 are expected to acquire type 2 diabetes at some point in their lives, and for African Americans and Hispanics, the numbers are even more frightening - 40 -53% will get type 2 diabetes
- Cancer is expected to increase by 50% by the year 2020
Environmental factors including pesticides, cleaning products and diesel from school buses also contributes to poor health in children, including asthma and potentially cancer. NYC school children have the highest rates of asthma in the country.
Children who eat breakfast and lunch at school eat nearly half of their meals at school each week while school is in session, but it's not just the meals that are the problem, the whole school food environment can contribute to poor health in children: class parties, fundraising with food, a la carte lines in the cafeteria, school stores, food used as rewards, idling school buses, pesticides, and cleaning products.
"If we don't model what we teach, then we're teaching something else." ~ author unknown
The New York Coalition for Healthy School Food (NYCHSF) is a statewide nonprofit that works to improve the health and well-being of New York's students by advocating for healthy plant-based foods, farm to school programs (including organic where possible), the elimination of unhealthy competitive foods in all areas of the school (not just the cafeteria), comprehensive nutrition policy, and education to create food- and health-literate students. Such changes result in better health, better grades, and better behavior. NYCHSF provides educational resources, information, and presentations to parents, students, teachers, food service directors and administrators for making positive changes; advocates for more funding for school foods; and for all foods to be healthy choices.
Wellness in the Schools (WITS) is a parent-run nonprofit involved with children's environmental health, nutrition and fitness in the New York City public schools. We are currently spearheading the first green cleaning initiative in the NYC public schools called Clean, Green Schools. We are advocating cleaner-fueled school buses, which will not only protect our children's health, but also will help fight global warming. In addition, we are passionate in our pursuit of healthier school food for all NYC school children. Our goal is to create healthier schools for New York City's 1.1 million students.
These two organizations that focus on our children are joining forces with Christie Brinkley who is of course well known for her commitment to healthy living and an unwavering support of the environment. From travel to fine dining to incredible merchandise, we are proud to be working with Christie Brinkley and both The New York Coalition for Healthy School Food and Wellness in the Schools.
