Sesame Street gets Healthy, Sesame Street nutritionists

Sesame Streets gets Healthy
In response to the growing concern amongst consumers about junk food marketing to children, Sesame Workshop, the producers behind Sesame Street, has retained two health and nutrition advisors for its Healthy Habits for Life (HHFL) program, created to address the crisis of childhood obesity. Julie Bines, MBBS, FRACP, MD., and Kay Laraine Gibbons, BAppSci (Diet), APD, both from Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital and the University of Melbourne, will now work with the nonprofit organization to ensure that food products under the HHFL umbrella meets strict nutritional guidelines set out by the Australian Food Standards Australia New Zealand, before hitting the shelves. Professor Bines and Ms Gibbons will analyze the ingredients and nutritional information for potential food products that may be licensed through the Sesame Street brand, and determine whether or not particular foods meet the organization’s nutrition criteria. Their feedback and guidance will help ensure that the Sesame Street brand and characters are utilized only to promote nutritious foods to Australian children and families. They will also assist Sesame Workshop to help children develop healthy eating habits. “The HHFL program was introduced to help young children and their caregivers establish an early foundation of healthy habits that can last a lifetime,” says Dr. Charlotte Cole, Vice President of Education and Research, Sesame Workshop. “Using beloved characters from Sesame Street is a great way for children to learn about these healthy habits, however we also have a responsibility to ensure that products carrying the HHFL branding is, in fact, nutritious and healthy.” “We are proud to work with two such prestigious advisors, who have dedicated their careers to improving children’s health, and positively shaping the lives of Australia’s young children. Together we can harness the power and reach of Sesame Street to make overall health and well-being a crucial part of the development of young children,” she adds Through television, outreach and licensed products, Healthy Habits for Life sets the benchmark in educational content that will guide pre-schoolers and their caregivers through lessons about healthy eating, physical activity, hygiene, and proper rest. Professor Bines is Head of Clinical Nutrition, Paediatric Gastroenterologist, at the Royal Children’s Hospital and is the Victor and Loti Smorgon Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Melbourne. Ms Kay Gibbons, an Accredited Practising Dietician, serves as Manager of Nutrition and Food Services at the Royal Children’s Hospital. She is also an Honorary Senior Lecturer for the School of Medicine at Monash University, and a Fellow of the Dietitians Association of Australia. She has a particular interest in issues involving eating and behaviour, including childhood obesity and eating disorders, and the role of children’s early learning about eating. Ms Gibbons has presented at numerous children’s health conferences and serves as an advisory to many children’s health organizations. In Australia, the HHFL program continues to expand across food and grocery categories. About Healthy Habits for Life Healthy Habits for Life is Sesame Workshop’s multi-year, content-driven initiative to help young children and their caregivers establish an early foundation of healthy habits that can last a lifetime. We will harness the power and reach of Sesame Street to make overall health and well-being crucial to the development of young children in much the same way it has done with learning to read and write. About Sesame Workshop Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization that changed television forever with the legendary Sesame Street. As the single largest informal educator of young children, local Sesame Street programs produced in countries as diverse as South Africa, Bangladesh and India are making a difference in over 120 nations. Using proprietary research to create engaging and enriching content, Sesame Workshop produces programs such as Dragon Tales and Pinky Dinky Doo. In addition, multimedia needs-driven initiatives provide families tools for addressing such issues as children’s health, military deployment and emergency preparedness. As a nonprofit, product proceeds and philanthropic donations support Sesame Workshop’s educational research and creative content for children around the world. Learn more at www.sesamestreet.org
source: Esencia Communications
added: 14 May 2009