Nutricate n' move!: A nutrition and physical education curriculum designed to promote healthy eating and active lifestyle

Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions and the increasing numbers does not seem to cease. Major health complications are associated with childhood obesity that is usually seen only in adults, such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Many have pondered what is contributing to the rise in childhood obesity. Numerous factors have been shown to cause obesity, such the increase in consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and empty-calorie foods, increase in portion sizes, and lack of physical activity. The purpose of this project is to educate parents and their children on the importance and benefits of healthy eating and to implement daily physical activity in their lives. This project also exposes children and parents to new exotic and interesting fruits and vegetables that may not have been seen or eaten before. Educating them on nutrition and the importance of physical activity has been shown to help alleviate the growing obesity epidemic