HOST HEPA Roundup, February 16, 2016

The latest in our regular roundups of healthy eating and physical activity news from HOST members and others.

News

• The American Heart Association has given its support to a new WHO Report “Ending Childhood Obesity,” and calls for action on the "evidence-based strategies of implementing taxes on sugary drinks, restricting marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children, and increasing active time through physical education in schools.
• The National Recreation and Park Association announced new one-year grants of $25,000 to $35,000 through the Walmart Foundation that will support park and recreation agencies in their efforts to benefit children’s health. The grants will focus on: increasing the number of healthy meals for children in low-income communities; providing nutrition literacy to children and families; implementing nutrition standards that increase access to healthier foods and support a healthy eating environment; and decreasing food waste to create more sustainable meal programs.
• Salud America! has received a one-year, $1.3 million grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to develop new, culturally tailored educational content that empowers people to work toward policy changes for the health of Latino children. The latest in our regular roundups of healthy eating and physical activity news from HOST members and others.

Events

• Registration is now open for the Food Research and Action Center's National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference, February 28, 2016 to March 1, 2016.

Research

• Almost half of Ohio voters with school-age kids (K-12) think children don't get enough time to eat meals in school, according to a new study from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Pew Charitable Trusts, despite evidence that kids eat less during shorter periods. More than three-quarters of the parents support the current national nutrition standards for school meals.
• A study of fourth and fifth graders in 43 low-resource schools in southern California found that breakfast in the classroom is associated with more students eating breakfast as well as better dietary quality, but not with higher breakfast or daily calorie intake.

Activities and Toolkits

• The American Heart Association has created a free, downloadable "Fruit and Veggie Toolkit for Kids" (in English and Spanish) to help parents empower children to develop healthy habits.
• Partnership for a Healthier America shares "6 Exercise Hacks for Kids Stuck Indoors."
• Action for Healthy Kids reports on how one elementary school in Maryland has given students active indoor recess sessions during the cold winter months.