The 4-part series will debut on HBO on Monday, May 14 and Tuesday, May 15.    The film titles include “Consequences”, “Choices”, “Children in Crisis” and “Challenges”.

The 3-part HBO family series will debut Wednesday, May 16.HBO Family’s “the Weight of the Nation for Kids”, a series of 3 half-hour films, looks at children who have taken action to prevent obesity in their own lives and communities.

This upcoming HBO documentary is a major activity of CDC to raise awareness and engage stakeholders in battling the obesity  epidemic.

All films will stream free of charge on HBO.com.

For more information go to: http://theweightofthenation.hbo.com/downloads/The%20Weight%20of %20the%Nation%20-%20Press%20Release.pdf

http://theweightofthenation.hbo.com/#about

Schools should focus on nutrition, Joyce Green Pastors and Barbara H. Yager on November 11

Don’t blame milk for obesity health problems in youth, Angie Hasemann on November 4

On Friday, catch Cafeteria Man at 5:30pm at the Regal 4 Downtown Mall. The documentary profiles chef Tony Geraci’s efforts to transform school food in Baltimore City schools. After the film, join director Richard Chisolm and Baltimore City Schools chef Tony Geraci in a discussion with Charlottesville City Schools Board member Guian McKee, Local Food Hub’s Lisa Reeder, and Brittany Saunders of UVa.

On Saturday, watch Farmageddon at 3:00pm at Culbreth Theater (UVa Arts Grounds.) The film looks at food production in America, and the panel discussion will feature Joel Salatin of Polyface Farm and Paul Freedman of UVa and the UVa Food Collaborative.

Tickets to both films are available online at the Virginia Film Festival website.

Washing hands in the Buford Middle Cooking Club

About Our Cooking Clubs:

Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth has provided funding for cooking clubs in 3 Charlottesville City Schools (Buford, Burnley Moran, and Charlottesville High). These clubs are directed by Alicia Cost, RD.

Students learn how to “adapt” a recipe and how ingredients contribute to taste and texture. We also discuss the cost difference when cooking from scratch, and portion size for foods they encounter daily.

Healthy Recipe Winners:

The recipes have been tasted, the votes counted, and we have winners! The 40 student chefs in our spring Cooking Clubs have test-prepared and test-tasted weeks and weeks of healthy and kid-friendly snacks.

And (drumroll please)… the winners are:

From the Burnley Moran Cooking Club: Mini Veggie Quiches

Chopping vegetables in Cooking Club

Mini quiches are great to pre-make and reheat for a protein-based “on the go” snack or breakfast food. We made ours in muffin tins to “right-size” the portion, added loads of veggies, and made them crustless to reduce the fat.

From the Buford Middle School Cooking Club: Personal Pizzas, Brownie Dessert

For the personal pizzas, we hused homemade whole wheat pizza dough as the foundation. The kids chopped up the vegetables and made a simple low-sodium pizza sauce to add flavor. We shredded low-fast mozzarella cheese to see the cost savings difference between bulk and pre-shredded bagged cheese. The students were happy to see that the reduction in fat did not sacrifice taste!

The brownie dessert hits the taste target by reducing the granulated sugar, oil and eggs while adding in just the right amount of unsweetened applesauce. We topped the dessert with low-fat frozen vanilla yogurt and a dollop of whip cream and cocoa sauce they made from scratch. The key to this sweet dessert is keeping the portions right-sized.

From the Charlottesville High School Cooking Club: Sweet & Savory Crepes, Italian Spahetti

Sweet & Savory Crepes: “No fear in flipping!” was the motto when making these light batter treats. The chefs in the class came out with gold medals in making very professional crepes. The savory crepes added shredded vegetables and Neufchatel cheese and herbs. The sweet version was very BERRY good too!

Italian Spaghetti: Our student chefs made a marinara sauce using canned tomatoes and seasoning, served over whole wheat spaghetti. They also made a Tuscan Salad that included cannellini and green beans, romaine lettuce and red onion. We finished the salad with a homemade light vinaigrette. YUM!

Would you like to try some of these recipes on your own? Let us know! Leave a comment on this page, and we’ll post the recipes you’d like to see.

Buford Live Fit Club enjoying the Smith Aquatic & Fitness Center

By the time the school bells rang in June, 35 Charlottesville elementary and middle school students had danced, stretched and played like never before. We’re very happy to share with you some of the successes from our first Live Active clubs at Burnley Moran Elementary and Buford Middle.

Our Live Active clubs are enrollment-based after school activities focused on helping students learn fun and non-competitive physical activities. The program is funded by a grant from the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth.

Live Fit mini soccer clinic at Buford Middle School

In this first semester, regular staff and special guest instructors led students through individual and group physical activity sessions. Each week students learned a new activity: soccer, zumba, yoga, dance, and other fun and active games. Middle school students were also granted special access to the City’s new Smith Aquatic and Fitness Center, where they go to join in swimming classes and guided use on cardio equipment.

At the Smith Aquatic and Fitness Center

Through a special in-kind grant from the Charlottesville Department of Parks & Recreation, all students who participated in at least 80% of the club meetings received a summer outdoor pool pass for city pools.

Our dedicated team of staff and volunteers learned a lot from the students. We’re already working on the next semester of Live Active clubs. Stay tuned!

We still need 15-20 volunteers for Sunday’s race. There are jobs for everyone: early-risers, late risers, canoe-lovers, route flaggers and cheer-leaders. Volunteer shifts are:

• 5:30am-8am
• 7am-11am
• 9am-1:30pm

Come out to Walnut Creek Park, spend the morning cheering and staffing the race, and you’ll help us raise funds to make Charlottesville a supportive community that fosters healthy lifestyles for everyone.

To sign up, email Barbara at barbara.yager@vdh.virginia.gov

Directions to Walnut Creek Park on Race Day

From Charlottesville, take 29 South approximately 6 miles (from the intersection of I-64)  to Route 708 ( Red Hill Rd) Turn left and go approx. 3 miles to Route 631 (Old Lynchburg Rd) Turn Right and proceed 0.5 miles to entrance of Walnut Creek Park on your left.  Turn left into the park and proceed to very bottom- end of road.  Park on left hand side of road or up at the mid point parking and walk-ride down to bottom.  Do not park at the top of the hill or on the right side of the road.

What to Wear?

Come prepared for all weather. The race goes on in everything except lightening! It’s usually hot, so bring sunblock and a hat. You’ll get a race t-shirt that will identify you as a volunteer. (And you get to keep it!) Wear comfortable shoes. We will have plenty of water, but you can bring your own bottle if you’d like. We’ll also provide fruit and bagels for after the race.

See you Sunday!

We need 45 volunteers for Sunday. Can you help out? While you’re at it, you’ll meet some of the other wonderful people who are working hard to make our community a healthier place.

There are jobs for everyone: early-risers, late risers, canoe-lovers, route flaggers and cheer-leaders. Volunteer shifts are:

• 5:30am-8am
• 7am-11am
• 9am-1:30pm

To sign up, email Barbara at barbara.yager@vdh.virginia.gov

Directions to Walnut Creek Park on Race Day

From Charlottesville, take 29 South approximately 6 miles (from the intersection of I-64)  to Route 708 ( Red Hill Rd) Turn left and go approx. 3 miles to Route 631 (Old Lynchburg Rd) Turn Right and proceed 0.5 miles to entrance of Walnut Creek Park on your left.  Turn left into the park and proceed to very bottom- end of road.  Park on left hand side of road or up at the mid point parking and walk-ride down to bottom.  Do not park at the top of the hill or on the right side of the road.

What to Wear?

Come prepared for all weather. The race goes on in everything except lightening! It’s usually hot, so bring sunblock and a hat. You’ll get a race t-shirt that will identify you as a volunteer. (And you get to keep it!) Wear comfortable shoes. We will have plenty of water, but you can bring your own bottle if you’d like. We’ll also provide fruit and bagels for after the race.

See you Sunday!

The program starts next week, July 11th, and will run every weekday from 12noon to 1pm. The church aims to serve children in the surrounding neighborhoods, where 89% of children qualify for free or reduced price lunch at school.

First Baptist Church is at 632 W Main Street, Charlottesville. For more information, call 434 979 0952 or email pastor Hodari Hamilton at PastorHodari@gmail.com.