Junior League’s Kids in the Kitchen initiative is in response to the alarming statistic that nearly one-third of children and adolescents in the United States are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight.   Even more alarming is the fact that childhood obesity has been shown to be the leading cause of pediatric hypertension, is associated with Type II diabetes, increases the risk of coronary heart disease, increases stress on the weight-bearing joints, lowers self-esteem and affects relationships with peers. With the goal to raise awareness and attempt to reverse the growth of childhood obesity and its associated health issues, the League-wide program will educate children and families about childhood obesity and nutrition.

Among the many aspects of this grassroots campaign, the Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI), the umbrella organization of the Junior Leagues, has launched a virtual recipe collection featuring kid-friendly, nutritious recipes that are grouped into five categories: breakfast, lunchbox, dinner, snacks and party treats.   The website will also feature tips and recipes of the day, as well as quizzes and polls to test kids on their nutrition knowledge.   Recipes can be printed out and pasted onto index cards to share with friends.   The virtual recipe collection is accessible at http://kidsinthekitchen.ajli.org.

Thousands of children will have the opportunity to enrich their lives and palates with recipes, tips and activities from Junior League members through the Junior League’s Kids in the Kitchen initiative.