MGN Goes Back to School with Healthy Choices for Lunch Boxes, Classroom Celebrations

Special cooking with your kids segment features father and son team

August 23, 2007, Pottstown, PA – The ninth episode of Mission: Good Nutrition, a
29-minute TV program sponsored by Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation promoting healthy living, will begin running Thursday, September 6, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. on PCTV Channel 27 and will air at the same time each subsequent Thursday in September.

“September is a busy month for families. Kids are back in school and it is easy to slip into eating habits that are not healthly. This month’s Mission: Good Nutrition showcases ways to make sure your child’s lunch and classroom snacks are the best they can be,” comments Dave Kraybill, executive director, Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation. “Also, one of our guest chefs, Jared Johnson brings his son into the kitchen. They show how cooking with your kids can be fun while teaching them about nutritious eating.”

In the first segment, Jo-an Rechtin, a freelance food writer and cooking instructor, informs parents how easy it is to make a few changes in their child’s lunch box to ensure that their kids are getting the right foods to energize their minds during the school day. She is full of food choice ideas, recipes and important tips including safe ways to make sure that your child’s lunch stays the proper temperature and bacteria free.

The second segment features Betsy Tecco, a health and nutrition writer, who visits local schools and talks about the importance of physical activity and good nutrition. She delves into the subject of healthy classroom parties. Most parents do not realize that every time they have to provide a snack for a birthday or classroom celebration it doesn’t have to be a sugary goodie. Tecco explains that this doesn’t mean boring, and it doesn’t mean the end of the classroom party, it means there are wonderful choices that are also healthy. She will demonstrate how easy it is to substitute a sugary sweet with a nutritious and delicious treat.

Finally, Chef Jared Johnson, chef of The Johnson Kitchen in Pottstown, brings his son Jared Junior into the kitchen with him. This dynamic duo demonstrates how quality time in the kitchen with your child provides an ideal opportunity to learn how cooking healthy is fun and easy. They prepare Berry Tasty Muffins and English Muffin Pizzas.

This month’s “Fitness Minute” reminds us that busy back to school schedules shouldn’t take time from family togetherness and exercise. See ways to get outside and get active together.

About the Program Mission: Good Nutrition - In support of the Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation’s goal to promote healthy living and healthy lifestyles, the Foundation sponsors the Mission: Good Nutrition program, which airs every Thursday at 7:00 p.m. on PCTV Channel 27. Area residents, particularly parents with school-age children, can discover practical, fun, easy and convenient ideas to use immediately and benefit from every day. The “fitness minute” in each episode complements the nutritional focus and reinforces that better eating habits plus improved fitness are keys to enjoying a healthier quality of life. All episodes feature interviews and discussions with health and nutrition experts, plus hands-on cooking demonstrations by local chefs and culinary professionals.

Visit www.pottstownfoundation.org and click on “Mission: Good Nutrition” for an array of interesting information—recipes featured on the program, video clips, and quizzes, as well as how to contact show host Beth Trapani, former communications director and spokeswoman for Pennsylvania Advocates for Nutrition and Activity. Mission: Good Nutrition was developed by The Anderson Group and is being produced by Dayton Communications.

About the Foundation - The Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation’s mission is to enhance the health and wellness of area residents, providing education, funding and programs that motivate people to adopt healthy lifestyles.