Healthy Kids

Obesity and lack of physical activity are among the greatest health risks of our time, according to the World Health Organization. And it's children who may pay the biggest price.

One in four Canadian kids is overweight or obese – which puts them at increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. The generation growing up today is the first in Canadian history to face a shorter expected lifespan than their parents.

Today’s Parent is determined to change that. Our Healthy Kids 2009 program is aimed at getting more kids active and eating better. Here's how you can get involved:

• Our partner organization, Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada, is asking the federal government to invest in healthy after-school programs accessible to all kids. We need your help to make this a reality.

• Congratulations! Together we logged over 2,806,572 minutes of physical activity our Every Minute Counts Family Fitness Contest. Thanks for getting active with us. We hope you enjoyed the journey as much as we did.

Healthy Kids 2009: Fitness and Nutrition

Fitness and Healthy Eating Online Resources

Healthy Eating
It's the kids who led the way to healthier eating for this family

One-on-one With Chef David Rocco
David Rocco talked to Today's Parent editor Caroline Connell about his greatest joys: parenthood and wonderful food. PLUS watch Video: Cooking With David Rocco

All About Soccer
A source of fun, friendship and physical activity — no wonder soccer is the most played sport in Canada. Here's how to help your child get the most out of it, at every age and stage

Making Lifestyle Changes
Say you could make a simple switch here, a little tweak there and improve your family's health and well-being. No hassle, no bother. We asked three experts for simple changes we can all manage

See more below

Our partners

	Safe Kids Canada is the national injury prevention program of The Hospital for Sick Children, working to translate research into best practices that will reduce the number of children hurt or killed by preventable injuries.
	Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada operates in more than 700 locations across the country, offering programs to about 200,000 children and youth each year to help boost their healthy physical, educational and social development.
	Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only free, 24-hour, bilingual and anonymous phone and online counseling service for children and youth. Professional counsellors provide support and hope to young people across the country.
	Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health & Environment is an alliance of organizations working to protect kids’ health from environmental contaminants. The partners believe all children have the right to a clean, safe, healthy environment.
	Arts for Children & Youth of Toronto provides unique, hands-on arts programming for children and youth from underserved communities in the Greater Toronto Area.
	The YMCA encourages children and youth to embrace healthy habits that can become a lifelong practice through education and fun activities. The YMCA in Canada currently serves 713,000 children and youth in more than 250 communities from coast to coast.
	The Canadian Women’s Foundation is Canada’s only national public foundation dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls. CWF researches, shares and funds the best approaches to ending violence against women, moving low-income women out of poverty, and building strong, resilient girls.
	The Girls’ Growth Fund IPO At the Canadian Women's Foundation, we want every girl in Canada to know that she matters. Through the Girls' Growth Fund IPO (Immediate Public Opportunity), we're raising funds to support programs for girls across Canada by selling 'shares' in the fund at $100 each. Your donation will help more than 3,000 girls to find the confidence, courage and potential in themselves, and to realize that they matter.
	Fire Prevention Canada's mission is to increase the awareness of fire prevention and safety through direct education of the public. The organization’s goal is to reduce the number of mostly preventable residential fires across this country, many of which are fatal.
	Spark Together for Healthy Kids: Today's Parent is a proud supporter of the Heart and Stroke Foundation's Spark Together for Healthy Kids
	At My Best is a school-based children's wellness program, which was developed by AstraZeneca Canada and Physical and Health Education Canada. The program was created for students in kindergarten to grade three and aims to motivate children and their families develop lifelong healthy habits. At My Best focuses on three key areas of wellness: physical, nutritional and emotional health.
	Reaching for the Top: A Report by the Advisor on Healthy Children & Youth

Nutrition

Growing nutrition needs
The facts on feeding your child through the years

Fit family seven-day meal plan
Our dietitian-designed menu for growing, active families

The ABCs of omega-3s
Why this fatty acid is so essential

10 healthy foods
Want to get your kids to eat more nutritious nosh? Check out these super-foods and tempting ways to serve ‘em

Iron rules
Why this mineral is essential for your family’s health

Are you raising a picky eater?
Take our quiz and find out how to avoid mealtime pitfalls

Who’s helping overweight kids?
Hardly anyone, it turns out, despite the alarming rates of childhood obesity

Organic: A brand you can trust?
How much of it is healthful good sense and what’s just hype?

Fitness

Get healthier together
Six ways to max out your family’s well-being

Quiz: How fit is your family?
Get off the couch and answer the following to find out how active you and your family really are

Is your province fit for kids?
Canadian children are in the grips of an inactivity epidemic. Here’s how we can help them shape up