NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., May 1, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The Junior League of Orange County, Calif., Inc. (JLOCC), in conjunction with the Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI), is continuing an educational initiative to prevent childhood obesity and aid nutritional education through its "Kids in the Kitchen" website, www.kidsinthekitchen.ajli.org, and local programs.
A fun-filled special event for approximately 120 youngsters will be conducted by JLOCC from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Friday, May 11, at the Esperanza Special Education School, 25121 Pradera Drive, Mission Viejo. Chip and Kim McAllister, Coto de Caza residents who are winners of TV's hit program, "The Amazing Race," Susan's Healthy Gourmet owner Susan Johnson and UCI athletes will discuss the importance of eating well while providing samples of nutritious snacks and meals. A representative of Yoga Works will also lead a demonstration for students of both the Esperanza Special Education School and the nearby Linda Vista Elementary School. Sponsors of the event include Ralph's Markets and Trader Joe's.
The AJLI Kids in the Kitchen website, available to all who wish to access it, offers a virtual cookbook featuring kid-friendly, nutritious recipes that are grouped into categories including breakfast, lunchbox, dinner, snacks and party treats. The site also provides tips and recipes of the day, as well as quizzes and polls to test kids on their nutritional knowledge. The recipes and tips can be e-mailed to friends, or printed out and pasted on index cards.
The Kids in the Kitchen website also features celebrities such as Mary Louise Parker, Fran Drescher, and Emmy Rossum, star of The Phantom of the Opera, who have contributed healthy recipes. Fullback Heath Evans, of three-time Super Bowl Champions, the New England Patriots, shares his personal fitness and nutrition tips. Food Network Chef Ellie Krieger, author of "Small Changes, Big Results," offers tips on high-energy snacks and breakfasts on the go.
This Junior League initiative is in response to the alarming statistic that nearly one-third of children and adolescents in the United States are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight. Even more alarming is that childhood obesity has been shown to be the leading cause of pediatric hypertension, is associated with Type II diabetes, increases the risk of coronary heart disease, increases stress on the weight-bearing joints, lowers self-esteem and affects relationships with peers. With the goal of raising awareness and attempting to reverse the growth of childhood obesity and its associated health issues, the League-wide program will educate children and families about childhood obesity and nutrition.
About the Junior League of Orange County, California, Inc.
The Junior League of Orange County, California, Inc. is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and the leadership of trained volunteers. JLOCC has contributed to Orange County by helping found organizations such as Orangewood Children's Home, and the Volunteer Center of Orange County, among others. Funds raised support Orange County Bar Foundation, Orange County Children's Therapeutic Arts Center, Casa Teresa Inc., Girls Inc., YMCA of Orange County, and Bear Hugs. The organization also awards thousands of dollars in grants and scholarships each year. As a solely educational and charitable organization, the JLOCC's trained volunteers actively support the community through collaboration with organizations that promote and support the health, safety and education of women and children. JLOCC's purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. A 501(c)(3) organization, the JLOCC reaches out to women of all races, religions, and national origins. Originally founded in 1956 as the Newport Harbor Service League, the JLOCC is a member organization of the Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. To learn more about the JLOCC, call (949) 261-0823 or visit www.jlocc.org.