Cynthia Ortiz,
Nutrition Researcher La Placita Wellness and Education Center, Inc. USA
Title: Childhood obesity: Reading food labels, searching for monsters and journaling. A mindfulness approach for teaching children about what’s in their food
Biography
Biography: Cynthia Ortiz,
Abstract
Statement of the Problem: Children (and adults) are consuming preservatives, pesticides, and other additives found in processed foods in high quantities. Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Dept of Agriculture report that small quantities of these chemicals are safe, safety concerns develop when they are consumed in high quantities. The saying, “a little bit won’t hurt” is only true when the consumer knows how much of the preservatives, pesticides, etc. they are consuming. In reviewing Figure 1, which is a food label for a bakery item, we encounter 9 out of the 16 Monsters discussed in the What’s Eating You Kid? Program. Six of the Monsters on the label have been identified as causing anger and violent behavior when consumed in excess. Consuming different foods that contain a list of ingredients like those in the Figure 1 label throughout the day is more than “just a little bit” and a cause for real concern.
The purpose of What’s Eating You Kid? is (1) to teach children (and adults) to learn what the “Monsters” are (by studying the eBook, word puzzle, Monster puzzles and flash cards), (2) to teach the effects on health from overconsumption of these Monsters and (3) journaling (which is a mindful activity that can create awareness and change) to keep track of the Monsters using the interactive Monster Tracker Journal.
During two studies (2009 and 2010) at a preschool center and 30 summer day camps, children were taught nutrition using the My Food Pyramid for Kids along with food label recognition that were a precursor to the What’s Eating You Kid? program.
Findings: Children did not want to consume food that contained preservatives, pesticides, etc. if consuming these things were going to make them obese and/or shorten their life span. Children reacted to the information they received by insisting that their parents, “stop feeding them junk and stop killing them.” We conducted parent workshops which initially led to the creation of the What’s Eating You Kid? eBook and program.
Conclusions & Significance: (1) Children want to be healthy. (2) Journaling is a mindfulness activity creating awareness and checking impulsivity. (3) Making better choices is awareness that creates change. (4) Parents and/or guardians, schools and organizations can learn and teach this program which is suitable for all ages. (5) In 2009, obesity was reversed 100% at the preschool proving that teaching label reading and mindfulness intervention like journaling works.