Healthy Weight in Preschool Children—Way to Go! Weigh to Grow!

Mt. Pleasant, MI, 2004

In 2005, WCMU-TV expanded its previous Sound Partners grant project, Healthy Weight in Preschool Children, to reach the families of children, with education and support for healthy meals and eating habits that prevent childhood obesity.

Michigan ranks sixth in the nation for adults at risk for obesity-related disease. While the first stage of Healthy Weight in Preschool Children focused on reaching childcare providers with healthy weight messages and training; the second stage focused on reaching low-income families with the same messages—but was expanded to include “how-to” information, including video programming in the area of meal planning and preparation and simple low- to no-cost physical activities.

The programs are archived at the project website, and were distributed on DVD to parents through 25 workshops conducted by Michigan State University Extension field staff, Michigan Community Coordinated Child Care (4C), daycare providers and Mid Michigan Community Action Agency (MMCAA) Headstart teachers. The DVD includes recipes, menu planners and grocery list templates, and a PowerPoint of the parent workshop with “printables” of the support materials. A second DVD provides suggestions for physical activity focusing on music with instruction for age-appropriate dance and interpretive movement. WCMU conducted four “train-the-trainers” workshops and mentored workshop leaders.

Focus groups were conducted with food stamp-eligible parents in three poor rural counties to identify the barriers to providing healthy meals and adequate physical activity for their youngest children. The research was funded by a 75 percent USDA/Michigan Nutrition Network matching grant, and is available to project partners, Michigan Family Independence Agency and policy makers.

Awards:

WCMU Round Four

$65,625 matching grant to reach foodstamp eligible families with healthy lifestyle information
—Michigan Nutrition Network/USDA

Michigan Child Care Champion Award to WCMU
— Michigan Community Coordinated Child Care

$500
— Mid Michigan Healthcare for Zonya presentation.

WCMU Round Three

$50,625 matching grant to reach foodstamp eligible families with healthy lifestyle information
—Michigan Nutrition Network/USDA