A free program being offered on the North Shore for the first time is seeking to empower local children and their families to lead healthier lives.
The program, entitled MEND, an acronym for Mind, Exercise, Nutrition. .. Do It!, is being presented by North Vancouver Recreation Culture, and is targeting children ages seven to 13 who are considered to be above a healthy weight. Children attend accompanied by their family.
Not a weight loss program, rather MEND is intended to help participating families institute lasting lifestyle changes with a focus on improving children's physical activity levels, nutrition and self-esteem.
"We're always wanting to support families and individuals to live healthy lifestyles as part of our mandate. We know that kids today are not as active as they need to be. You hear a lot about chronic disease and sedentary behaviour," says Samantha Morrison, a programmer at North Vancouver Recreation Culture. "We know that it's hard to raise kids today, families are busy, there's a lot of information out there, and this is a free program to help parents sort out how they can help their families live healthier," she says.
The 10-week program will launch April 8 and will be offered twice a week, Wednesdays from 5:45 to 7:45 p.m., and Sundays from 3 to 5 p.m., at John Braithwaite Community Centre.
Sessions are broken into two parts with the first hour devoted to interactive discussions and activities about nutrition and behaviour change incorporating the whole family. The second hour sees parents continue their discussions, delving into more sensitive issues or any challenges they're facing, and share their experiences with one another, while the children take part in physical activities.
"The activities are focused on the whole family learning together, so there's quite a bit of a child-focus in terms of making it fun and exciting. There's challenges and there's activities that really engage people so it's not just a sit-and-listen," says Morrison.
The program will be facilitated by North Vancouver Recreation Culture fitness professionals who have undergone specific MEND curriculum training. "Those staff will be available to the clients long after the program finishes," says Morrison.
Topics covered include: how to make healthy food choices; how to read food labels, understand fats and sugars and the difference between refined and unrefined foods; how to prepare healthy, balanced meals; how to change eating and exercise habits by setting goals and rewards; and how to make exercises fun.
MEND was developed in the United Kingdom by experts in child nutrition, child behaviour and exercise. The program has been shown to help children reduce their Body Mass Index, increase their physical activity levels and self-esteem, and reduce sedentary behaviours.
"It's such a positive program and it really allows kids to feel like they belong, makes them feel like they can participate, that people understand what they're going through, and helps them be able to feel more confident - and that makes such a big difference," says Morrison.
The program, which has been adapted to align with Canadian dietary and policy guidelines, is currently offered at a few locations throughout the province, but this marks its first appearance on the North Shore.
It's one component of the Childhood Healthy Weights Intervention Initiative, newly launched by the Childhood Obesity Foundation in partnership with the B.C. Ministry of Health, according to the recreation commission.
"The people who have taken this program before that I spoke to felt like it was transformative for them. What really excites me about this is that we're offering it free in our community - twice," says Morrison.
North Vancouver Recreation Culture plans to offer a second round of the program starting in October at Harry Jerome Recreation Centre.
After the program is completed, participating families are eligible for approximately $250 towards recreation services.
"Not only is the program free, but then we give them passes to make it sustainable for them to continue," says Morrison.
To participate in the program, contact MEND programmer Tracy Wakaluk at 604-983-6401 or [email protected]. A short screening is required to ensure the program is right for each child. nvrc.ca
