WE CAN! Help our kids avoid childhood obesity with Subway and Scholastic (Part 2)

While interviewing Laila Ali and Jared Fogle was exciting, the WE CAN! program and what it is doing for kids and communities across the country is too!

Like the Escambia County Health Department giving inner-city Pensacola kids the opportunity to get in shape.

And the way the Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery in Kentucky encourages families to spend more time in nature.

The WE CAN program has tools that make it fun to learn about eating healthy and getting exercise.

For example, I have a sample kit for teachers that includes everything to get started:
parent/guardian letter
move of the day calendar
poster
certificates and stickers
AND - special hologram stickers that turn the certificates into a coupon for a FREE Subway Fresh Fit for Kids meal!

WE CAN Makes it simple to be healthy

If you are a parent you'll want to check out the Learn It and Live It sections.

If you are a teacher or community organizer you'll want to see just how EASY it is to run the WE CAN program for your group. (Think boys/girl scouts, recreation departments, educator, after-school program coordinator, neighborhood coach, etc.)

If you are a health professional there are materials you can distribute to your families.

Some of the materials available I have pinned to the side of my fridge already including the Go Slow Whoa sheet, and the Family Activity chart so we keep these in mind when we start our days.

Make it Happen! Contest

In addition to all the cool learning materials, WE CAN! and the program partners have created an exciting opportunity for your child to share a personal story about staying healthy and be entered to win Scholastic and Subway prizes!

How to enter:
Have your child write a story (or write it together) that tells how he or she eats healthy, stays active or limits recreational screen time (TV or Computer). Has she learned a new sport or motivated the family to start eating better?

Try starting with...
"My family and I stay healthy by eating..."
"Instead of watching TV or playing video games I like to..."

Then head over to www.scholastic.com/wecan and submit your child's story before June 30, 2009 (Mail in entries must be received by June 30, 2009. Visit www.scholastic.com/wecan for official rules and eligibility.)

1 Grand Prize Winner receives: $5,000 worth of athletic equipment for his/her school, Scholastic gift basket ($500 value), Subway gift cards ($100 value), and his/her story published online at www.scholastic.com/wecan and in Scholastic Parent & Child magazine!

6 Runners Up receive: Scholastic Gift Basket ($100 value) and Subway gift cards ($100 value)

I'll leave you with a tip from the Move of the Day calendar...
"Super-size? No way! If you buy snacks in big bags, put the amount you need for small healthy portions in individual bags. That way, it's easier not to over eat."

Good advice,
Janine

WE CAN! Series Part 1

Subway and NIH say WE CAN! Prevent Childhood Obesity (Part 1)

This is the first post in a series that will highlight the WE CAN program. _____________________________________________________

Last week I was invited to attend a very special PEP Rally where kids learned they need to "Play more, Eat right, and Push away the screen" if they want to maintain a healthy weight.

To get the kids excited, renowned athletes Laila Ali and Olympic soccer player Tab Ramos teamed up with Jared Fogle (who has a blog) for a pep talk and to show the kids fun ways to get off the couch and keep moving.

This is all part of a partnership between Subway® and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to promote the WE CAN! Education Program that will bring families and communities together to fight childhood obesity.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Laila and Jared (Tab got away but I'll get him next time).

Coming up next...
More on WE CAN and what you can do to get your community involved!
Then more from Jared and how he likes blogging!

Janine

Today I'm over at JessicaKnows (BLOG IDOL)

For real. This is BIG. JessicaKnows asked me to guest post and I was bouncing in my seat! You see I not only went to Blissdom, I landed a few great interviews with Nathan Pacheco, Ender Thomas, and Chris Mann.
Jessica asked me to write about my tips for interviewing a celebrity and you can see that I learned quite a lot...mostly from making mistakes.

Video of the interviews below. Take it easy, I'm a beginner.
But watch out Joan Rivers - I'm coming to a red carpet near you!

Ender and Nathan from Yanni Voices

Chris Mann

Chris Mann interview from twincident on Vimeo.

You can see photos of me with my interviewees over at JessicaKnows.
Stop in and tell her how I did!
Janine