Press Releases: Mid-Atlantic States
February 19, 2009
Sponsored by Kaiser Permanente – Fourth Annual Kids in the Kitchen Childhood Obesity and Nutrition Education Initiative
The Initiative will Feature Celebrity Chef George Stella, Crystal Palace USA and Others
ROCKVILLE, Md. – Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States region is proud to announce that it will sponsor Junior League's Kids in the Kitchen for the second year in a row.
The Junior League of Baltimore will host Kids in the Kitchen at Port Discovery Children's Museum on Saturday, March 7, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The event is targeted to underprivileged children in Baltimore City and is expected to have around 200 children attend. The goal of the initiative, which began in 2006, is to empower youth to make healthy lifestyle choices and help reverse the growth of childhood obesity and its associated health issues.
"Kaiser Permanente is excited to sponsor Junior Leagues' Kids in the Kitchen for the second time," said Carrie Harris-Muller. "Around 15 percent of 6-11 year olds and 16 percent of 12-19 year olds are considered overweight or obese and recent studies have shown that Baltimore City ranks higher than the national average regarding childhood obesity. Here at Kaiser Permanente we believe this doesn't have to be the case. We have established kid-friendly healthy eating recipe books and an interactive computer game designed to educate children on the importance of healthy eating."
Junior Leagues' Kids in the Kitchen will feature several fitness and nutrition stations set up throughout the museum. Kaiser Permanente's station will allow children to test their knowledge while playing their interactive computer game, the Amazing Food Detective. The Amazing Food Detective game is geared toward children ages 9 to 11 and contains information about healthy eating and exercising. Kaiser Permanente's Educational Theatre Department will act as the characters from the computer game and will educate the children on healthy eating and exercising practices.
Celebrity Food Network Chef George Stella is the spokesperson for the event and will lead the children in several activities, including an Iron Chef Kids Challenge. Crystal Palace USA, Baltimore's professional soccer team and sister organization of the world-renowned Crystal Palace Football Club in the United Kingdom, will lead the children in many soccer drills. Coach Tom LaNeve, who assists with the Baltimore Ravens Youth Program, will host a fitness station practicing football drills with the children.
Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States region provides and coordinates complete health care services for almost 500,000 members in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. With local headquarters in Rockville, Md., Kaiser Permanente currently has 30 medical office buildings.
