CLEVELAND — The obesity rate has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). To help reverse this disturbing trend, American Culinary Federation Education Foundation’s Chef & Child Foundation is encouraging chefs to host Childhood Nutrition Day awareness events throughout the month of October. Vitamix® has again partnered with the Foundation and will donate personal household blenders to the first 50 chefs who register and fulfill their commitments to host events for the first time. Chefs who received Vitamix machines last year for hosting events and agree to host events again this year will receive dry grains containers.
Chefs can use the Vitamix machines in their activities, which could range from cooking classes to demonstrations to hands-on smoothie making. While Childhood Nutrition Day is October 16, the Foundation encourages chefs to hold awareness events across the country throughout the entire month of October to help kids and families improve their health through proper nutrition.
“People around the world are finally starting to realize the connection between what they eat and how they feel, and by teaching children the value of proper nutrition early on, our hope is that we can help make healthy eating a positive, sustainable experience,” said Jodi Berg, president and CEO of Vitamix. “When children and families discover how incredibly quick and easy whole foods are to prepare in a Vitamix—and how great they taste—healthy eating becomes part of their lifestyles.”
Vitamix, a fourth-generation, family-owned manufacturer of high-performance blending equipment for home and commercial use, began promoting the benefits of whole food nutrition as far back as the 1930s. The company specifically engineered its blenders to have the power and versatility to turn fruits and vegetables into delicious dishes—including healthy green smoothies with an enjoyable, smooth consistency.
The Chef & Child Foundation was founded in 1989 to promote awareness of proper nutrition in preschool and elementary school children and to combat childhood obesity.
“Over the years, hundreds of our chefs have stepped up to share their knowledge and expertise with children and families,” said Ira Fingerman, chair, Chef & Child Foundation. “Whether it’s organizing food drives, creating hands-on activity booths or offering healthy cooking demonstrations, they are working to make healthy eating attainable for everyone.”
Chefs can register to host events on the American Culinary Federation web site. The initial 50 first-time chefs to sign up and host events will receive machines from the Vitamix Certified Reconditioned Standard series, backed by a five-year full warranty. Past participating chefs will be given dry grains containers, which can be used with the Vitamix machines they received last year.
By inspiring kids and families, chefs can reinforce information provided by the CDC that healthy eating helps prevent high cholesterol and high blood pressure and helps reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes.