CONNECTICUT JUNIOR LEAGUES HOST KIDS IN THE KITCHEN AT THE

ARENA AT HARBOR YARD

Education to Prevent Childhood Obesity in Our Communities

Fairfield, CT. — The Junior Leagues of Eastern Fairfield County, Greater New Haven, Greenwich, Hartford, New Britain and Stamford/Norwalk will bring their community nutrition project Kids in the Kitchen to 60 eight to ten year olds at The Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport on Sunday, April 11^th from 1:00 – 3:00pm.  The Junior Leagues’ Kids in the Kitchen program aims to empower youths to make healthy lifestyle choices and help reverse the growth of childhood obesity and its associated health issues.

As part of a collaborative effort, Connecticut Junior Leagues are bringing kids together from the Greenwich Boys & Girls Club, Bridgeport YMCA and Carver Center of Norwalk to participate in the program at The Arena at Harbor Yard. The program will feature a nutrition information session led by certified nutritionist and past president of the Junior League of Eastern Fairfield County Tara Liskov of Trumbull, CT.  Liskov will demonstrate how healthy foods can be fun and delicious and, alongside the kids, prepare two simple snacks the kids can then make themselves at home. A fun fitness workout led by a physical therapy team will follow and each child will receive educational materials to take home that will reinforce what they learn at the event.  The Kids in the Kitchen event will be followed by an exciting hockey game as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers take on the Hartford Wolf Pack in the final game of the season.  “Nurturing the healthy development of children is something we try to focus on all year round, so we are pleased to be a part of this statewide effort,” said Susan Zaveruha, President of the Junior League of Eastern Fairfield County.  “With this event we are trying to show the kids what they need to know and what they need to do in order to grow up stronger and healthier.” 

Children and their parents can continue to learn about healthy eating choices at the Kids in the Kitchen website: KidsintheKitchen.ajli.com. The website includes bilingual recipes, tips on nutrition, fitness and healthy lifestyles as well as an interactive “Kids' Corner” with an online nutrition game provided by Kids in the Kitchen’s international sponsor, Cartoon Network.

In 2006, over 200 Junior Leagues across Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States launched the Kids in the Kitchen initiative designed to address issues surrounding childhood obesity and poor nutrition.

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The Junior League of Eastern Fairfield County is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. Communities represented by the League include Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Newtown, Redding, Shelton, Southport, Stratford, Trumbull, Weston and Westport. For additional information about the Junior League of Eastern Fairfield County and its volunteer opportunities, please visit www.jlefc.org or call the League office at 203 259-9995.