Fit kids: Summer nutrition program aims to teach children how to eat smarter every day

Mobile County Health Department registered dietitians Margaret McCulloch

and Rachel Myers talked with two girls and their caregivers about

the importance of reading nutrition labels during an event July 16, 2013.

Mobile, Alabama -- Just because a food package label claims that what's inside is heart healthy or low in sugar doesn't mean it's necessarily true. That's why a group of registered dietitans and other staff at the Mobile County Health Department created a free summer program to help children and teenagers make healthier meal and snack choices each day.

On Tuesday, July 16, tweens and teens were invited to have smart snacks on the third floor of the Health Department's downtown headquarters, which included kiwi fruit, celery and hummus, among other foods that are typically low in fat and calories. Registered dietitians Margaret McCulloch and Rachel Myers talked with some of the girls who visited the event about the importance of reading food labels before deciding what to eat. Stacy Parrish, who also is a personal trainer, offered an exercise demonstration during the event.

Visitors also saw displays on "Iron Chef" meal planning and fun ways to incorporate exercise into daily activities. Plans call for presenting two more of the nutrition focused events this month. On Tuesday, July 23, children between the ages of 5 and 10 will be encouraged to attend. The next week, on July 30, those between the ages of 11 and 17 are invited to explore heathly food choices available to them.

Future summer time, "Me Time" events are free of charge and will be held in room 300 of the Keeler Building at 251 N. Bayou  Street in downtown Mobile. For more information, call 251-690-8828.   

One station at the Fit Kids "Me Time" summer event featured fun stamps

that children could use to mark passports as they navigated the room.