Fighting the battle of the bulge i...( o create a healthy eating environment i...)

"Access to a variety of foods is critical to encouraging the development of positive feeding patterns," said Dr. Haire-Joshu. "It's not enough to have fruit in the fridge. You need it where a hungry child can find it and you want it cut up into pieces that are appropriate for that child."

High 5-Kids also teaches parents about correct serving sizes for preschool-age children.

"Between television commercials and fast-food restaurants pushing their super-sized portions, children and parents no longer seem to know what a normal portion is," said Dr. Haire-Joshu. "For a preschool child, two bites of apple may be an appropriate portion."

Parents will receive personal visits by a parent educator who will provide them with computer-customized storybooks, personalized calendars and support material that will focus on their particular needs. If their child refuses vegetables, for example, parents may be provided with a pro-veggie storybook printed with the child's name and with strategies specific to that child's eating patterns.

"Parents are eager to do the best for their children," said Dr. Haire-Joshu. "The program builds on this and it reaches children at the best time. Eating patterns develop at the preschool age and if we teach them to drink milk over soda and eat peanuts over chips, then we're setting a pattern for life."

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Contact: Bree Owens
owensbc@slu.edu
314-977-8014
Saint Louis University
29-Nov-2001