Check out this article I found on NPR News:
New advertising guidelines from the Obama administration could make Dig 'Em the frog an endangered species — along with Toucan Sam, Chester Cheetah and other junk-food mascots used to sell products to children that are high in sugar, fat and sodium.
"Your ability to recognize those characters is a function of how much money the food makers spend in trying to alter the behaviors of children in a non-healthful manner," says Stephen Teret, a public health professor at Johns Hopkins University.
Now the Federal Trade Commission has offered what it calls "voluntary principles to guide industry self-regulation efforts to improve the nutritional profile of foods marketed to children."
Government has a very big role to play if we are going to end childhood obesity within a generation, as the first lady has called on us to do.
- Scott Faber, vice president of federal affairs at the Grocery Manufacturers Association
The government wants the food industry to market healthy foods to kids — not the fast food, sugary cereals and salty snacks that make up so much of the food advertising market aimed at children today.
The program would be voluntary, but it still rankles libertarians such as David Boaz of the CATO Institute. He sees this program as a government infringement on companies' free speech rights.
"If the federal government decided to issue voluntary guidelines about what newsmen should say to avoid inflaming the public, I think [the news media] would be pretty upset," he argues.
And, he says, since food companies have deep government involvement, opting out of these voluntary standards is "very difficult to do."
Margo Wootan of the Center for Science in the Public Interest hopes he's right. She helped draft the standards, and she says although food companies have taken steps to self-regulate, right now the system is a patchwork with lots of holes.
"These standards could take us from having self-regulation be a nice idea to having self-regulation actually work," Wootan says.
The food industry says it's open to these proposals.
"Government has a very big role to play if we are going to end childhood obesity within a generation, as the first lady has called on us to do," says Scott Faber, vice president of federal affairs at the Grocery Manufacturers Association. "So these are recommendations that we'll look at carefully as we think of ways to update the standards we're already using."
The public has 45 days to comment on these new proposals before the Obama administration sends its final report to Congress.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Mock Interview
Yesterday was my first mock interview since Miss Greater Rochester. It felt so good to get back into the swing of things. Interview is the MOST important! The panel of judges was comprised of my two co-executive directors, Calista Amering and Katie Martin, Miss greater Rochester 2007, Vanria Glenn, events coordinator at St John Fisher College, Twylla Dillion and Diocese of Rohester Catholic school teacher, Peggy Martin. I received so much valuable feed back. During interview I got extremely emotional about my inspiration, growth through the MAO and why I want to be Miss New York. I learned that it's OK to be so passionate about something that it brings you to tears, just not during interview! Haha :) I think of tears as a breakthrough, and I'm happy I'm making this breakthrough now.
Happy Easter!
Happy Easter!
B.O.O.S. T
Last Saturday I made a appearance with the LOVE group at Holy Faith Bible Tabernacle Church.
What a amazing experience! The girls were wonderful and so eager to get moving! I implemented my program called B.O.O.S.T which is the acronym for Becoming Optimistic Outgoing Self-Confident and Training- for a healthier lifestyle. My aim is to educate about health,lifestyle, prevention and self-esteem enhancement.
The LOVE
Group took part in a open conversation these topics and what it means to them, I even discussed the four points of the crown and how they can become successful, service oriented, stylish in their own individual and unique way. We even started thinking toward the future about high schools and colleges, tying in scholarships. These little ladies are going to be our future CEO's and Dr.s they are so motivated!
After our conversation we were ready to get moving! We stretched and did a 45 minute cardio and dance oriented fitness routine. Boy were they tired!
The next day I received a phone call from the director of the program and she expressed how much the girls retained the information and shared the healthy lifestyle tips with their families. Specifically getting fit together! Some even inquired about involvement in the Miss America Organization and how to become a contestant when they are of age. I cant wait to work with the LOVE program again, and I cant wait for the response I get from the Rochester Schools!
Here's a peek at more pictures I couldn't fit on my blog!Click Here
What a amazing experience! The girls were wonderful and so eager to get moving! I implemented my program called B.O.O.S.T which is the acronym for Becoming Optimistic Outgoing Self-Confident and Training- for a healthier lifestyle. My aim is to educate about health,lifestyle, prevention and self-esteem enhancement.
The LOVE
Group took part in a open conversation these topics and what it means to them, I even discussed the four points of the crown and how they can become successful, service oriented, stylish in their own individual and unique way. We even started thinking toward the future about high schools and colleges, tying in scholarships. These little ladies are going to be our future CEO's and Dr.s they are so motivated!
After our conversation we were ready to get moving! We stretched and did a 45 minute cardio and dance oriented fitness routine. Boy were they tired!
The next day I received a phone call from the director of the program and she expressed how much the girls retained the information and shared the healthy lifestyle tips with their families. Specifically getting fit together! Some even inquired about involvement in the Miss America Organization and how to become a contestant when they are of age. I cant wait to work with the LOVE program again, and I cant wait for the response I get from the Rochester Schools!
Here's a peek at more pictures I couldn't fit on my blog!Click Here
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution= Amazing!
Last night I was able to catch Jamie's Oliver's Food Revolution. I'm usually too busy to casually sit down and watch TV besides CNN but I have been looking forward to the premier of this show. Food is key in fighting childhood obesity. We need to care more about what we are putting into our bodies. Here is a quote from his website:
"This Food Revolution is about saving America's health by changing the way people eat. It's not just a TV show; it's a movement for you, your family and your community. If you care about your kids and their future, take this revolution and make it your own. Educate yourself about food and cooking, and find out what your child is eating at school. Make only a few small changes and magical things will happen. Switching from processed to fresh food will not only make you feel better, it will also add years to your life."- Jamie Oliver
Here is a article about Oliver taken from SHAPE magazine:
By Jennipher Walters
Last night the premiere of the second season of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution aired on ABC. The reality TV show chronicles chef Jamie Oliver's attempts at making over school cafeterias to serve healthier — and many times tastier — fare to students. With some British charm, Jamie also shows school administrators how to make healthy meals at an affordable cost — because at one point or another they all seem to fight for tator tots and chocolate milk to stay on the lunch menu due to lack of school funding.
For anyone who's seen the show and wishes that our children had healthier options in our public schools, last night's episode in Los Angeles was particularly frustrating, as Oliver kept facing road block after road block. While only time will tell how and if that situation works out, there are a few lessons to be learned from last night's show. All of them are generally good life lessons, but they also come in handy if you're trying to make a change for the healthier in your community.
3 Things to Learn from Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution
1. Persistence pays offs. If Jamie Oliver quit after hearing his first "no," there would be no show and there would be no revolution. There is so much misunderstanding when it comes to nutrition and funding (you really can make cheap and healthy meals — you just have to use really affordable ingredients and in-season produce) that it takes time and a whole lot of patience to truly convince people that change can happen and should happen.
2. Take the politics out. Do you remember the Food Revolution scene from season 1 where Jamie went on a radio talk show only to be told that he didn't need to be telling others what to eat? Food is a touchy subject, and school funding is a highly political subject. When it comes to getting our schools healthier, it shouldn't be about the politics — it should be about the kids.
3. It takes a village. You say you want a revolution? To help Jamie Oliver's cause and improve the quality of food in your local schools, sign the Food Revolution petition. After all, no woman is an island!
Jennipher Walters is the CEO and co-founder of the healthy living websites FitBottomedGirls.com and FitBottomedMamas.com. A certified personal trainer, lifestyle and weight management coach and group exercise instructor, she also holds an MA in health journalism and regularly writes about all things fitness and wellness for various online publications.
I support Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution! I signed the petition immediately after watching the show. You can too. Just Click Here
"This Food Revolution is about saving America's health by changing the way people eat. It's not just a TV show; it's a movement for you, your family and your community. If you care about your kids and their future, take this revolution and make it your own. Educate yourself about food and cooking, and find out what your child is eating at school. Make only a few small changes and magical things will happen. Switching from processed to fresh food will not only make you feel better, it will also add years to your life."- Jamie Oliver
Here is a article about Oliver taken from SHAPE magazine:
By Jennipher Walters
Last night the premiere of the second season of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution aired on ABC. The reality TV show chronicles chef Jamie Oliver's attempts at making over school cafeterias to serve healthier — and many times tastier — fare to students. With some British charm, Jamie also shows school administrators how to make healthy meals at an affordable cost — because at one point or another they all seem to fight for tator tots and chocolate milk to stay on the lunch menu due to lack of school funding.
For anyone who's seen the show and wishes that our children had healthier options in our public schools, last night's episode in Los Angeles was particularly frustrating, as Oliver kept facing road block after road block. While only time will tell how and if that situation works out, there are a few lessons to be learned from last night's show. All of them are generally good life lessons, but they also come in handy if you're trying to make a change for the healthier in your community.
3 Things to Learn from Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution
1. Persistence pays offs. If Jamie Oliver quit after hearing his first "no," there would be no show and there would be no revolution. There is so much misunderstanding when it comes to nutrition and funding (you really can make cheap and healthy meals — you just have to use really affordable ingredients and in-season produce) that it takes time and a whole lot of patience to truly convince people that change can happen and should happen.
2. Take the politics out. Do you remember the Food Revolution scene from season 1 where Jamie went on a radio talk show only to be told that he didn't need to be telling others what to eat? Food is a touchy subject, and school funding is a highly political subject. When it comes to getting our schools healthier, it shouldn't be about the politics — it should be about the kids.
3. It takes a village. You say you want a revolution? To help Jamie Oliver's cause and improve the quality of food in your local schools, sign the Food Revolution petition. After all, no woman is an island!
Jennipher Walters is the CEO and co-founder of the healthy living websites FitBottomedGirls.com and FitBottomedMamas.com. A certified personal trainer, lifestyle and weight management coach and group exercise instructor, she also holds an MA in health journalism and regularly writes about all things fitness and wellness for various online publications.
I support Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution! I signed the petition immediately after watching the show. You can too. Just Click Here
John Smillie Photoshoot
Yesterday I met with John Smillie, a professional photographer in Rochester, to take my Miss New York head shot and promotional shot for ads. Can I say he takes phenomenal photos! I had so many great options to choose from! I had a really tough time deciding which images to choose. We finally narrowed it down to about five. John was so great! He was able to get the final retouched images back to us that afternoon. I am so thankful for John and so pleased with the end results! Amazing photographer hands down! Take a look at his website
Click Here
Click Here
Im Back!
Ive been playing catch up with school and work but I'm back! Pageant workshop this past weekend was great! I''m so looking forward to pageant week, Staten Island is welcoming us with open arms and the Miss New York Organization has amazing things planned for us! Here is the link from 
Staten Island Live Click Here
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Get up and Move
April 6th marks the start of National Walking Day!
The American Heart Association along with me want you to get up and move!
Unfortunately adults like you and I are spending more time at work than ever before. An unfortunate side effect is that, as a nation, we're becoming more inactive.
But take heart! It's a problem you can help fix by convincing your company to take part in National Start! Walking Day.
On this day, employees are encouraged to wear sneakers to work and take at least 30 minutes out of their day to get up and walk. It's a great way to raise awareness of the Start! movement and to give your coworkers a friendly push toward a healthier life.
ClickHere for the Free Tool Kit to get your workplace involved!
The American Heart Association along with me want you to get up and move!
Unfortunately adults like you and I are spending more time at work than ever before. An unfortunate side effect is that, as a nation, we're becoming more inactive.
But take heart! It's a problem you can help fix by convincing your company to take part in National Start! Walking Day.
On this day, employees are encouraged to wear sneakers to work and take at least 30 minutes out of their day to get up and walk. It's a great way to raise awareness of the Start! movement and to give your coworkers a friendly push toward a healthier life.
ClickHere for the Free Tool Kit to get your workplace involved!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Parental Involvement and Childhood Obesity
This evening I read a article that focuses on parental involvement and how this contributes in efforts to reduce chilhood obesity. The article says:
One of the best ways to reduce childhood obesity is through parental involvement in a child's life. Specifically- helping his or her child make the right food decisions.
An Australian study examined 165 overweight children and randomly assigned them to one of three programs: an exercise program, a parent-controlled diet program, or a program combining both diet and exercise. After two years, all children experienced weight loss but the report noted that “the greatest effects were achieved through inclusion of a parent-centered diet program.
A Harvard Medical school study of over 16,000 children found that “eating family dinner was associated with healthful dietary intake patterns, including more fruits and vegetables, less fried food and soda, less saturated and trans fat, lower glycemic load, more fiber and micronutrients from food, and no material differences in red meat or snack foods.”
Becoming more involved in what our children eat is one out of many efforts to reduce childhood obesity.It's never to late to begin. The Let's move campagin has great suggestons for you and your family:
Set the Family Up for Success
Small changes in five key areas can make a huge difference and add up to real results: eat more fruits and vegetables, consume less sugar and fat, eat healthier snacks, watch portion size, and eat together as a family.
Fruits & Vegetables
Kids should eat five fruits and vegetables a day
Serve fresh, frozen, and canned fruits and vegetables; they all count
Provide fruit or carrot sticks as great snacks
Offer 100% juice, with no added sugar
Mix vegetables into dishes, like adding peas to rice, or cucumbers to a sandwich
Healthy Choices to Reduce Fat and Sugar
Switch to low or non-fat milk, yogurt and cheese
Choose lean cuts of meat like skinless chicken or extra lean ground beef for hamburgers or pasta sauces
Bake or grill instead of fry
Substitute olive or vegetable oil for butter
Substitute water or low-fat milk for sodas or sugar-sweetened beverages
Switch to lower sugar breakfast cereals
Switch desserts like ice cream and cake for fruit-based desserts
Snacks
Reduce the number of snacks served each day
Leave a bowl of fruit or carrot sticks on the kitchen table
Differentiate between snacks that require permission (cookies), versus snacks that kids can take freely (fresh or dried fruit or vegetable sticks)
Have kids drink water at snack time
Save "treats" for special occasions
Portion Size
Kids are smaller than adults and should eat smaller portions
Use smaller plates for kids
Don't force kids to clean their plates if they are full
Provide portions equal to the size of the back of a fist—a child’s fist for a child’s portion
Start with a small portion. Children can have seconds if they are still hungry
Eat Together
Family meals focus on eating and enjoying food and each other
Eating together is a chance to model good behavior
Regularly scheduled meal and snack times help kids learn structure for eating
One of the best ways to reduce childhood obesity is through parental involvement in a child's life. Specifically- helping his or her child make the right food decisions.
An Australian study examined 165 overweight children and randomly assigned them to one of three programs: an exercise program, a parent-controlled diet program, or a program combining both diet and exercise. After two years, all children experienced weight loss but the report noted that “the greatest effects were achieved through inclusion of a parent-centered diet program.
A Harvard Medical school study of over 16,000 children found that “eating family dinner was associated with healthful dietary intake patterns, including more fruits and vegetables, less fried food and soda, less saturated and trans fat, lower glycemic load, more fiber and micronutrients from food, and no material differences in red meat or snack foods.”
Becoming more involved in what our children eat is one out of many efforts to reduce childhood obesity.It's never to late to begin. The Let's move campagin has great suggestons for you and your family:
Set the Family Up for Success
Small changes in five key areas can make a huge difference and add up to real results: eat more fruits and vegetables, consume less sugar and fat, eat healthier snacks, watch portion size, and eat together as a family.
Fruits & Vegetables
Kids should eat five fruits and vegetables a day
Serve fresh, frozen, and canned fruits and vegetables; they all count
Provide fruit or carrot sticks as great snacks
Offer 100% juice, with no added sugar
Mix vegetables into dishes, like adding peas to rice, or cucumbers to a sandwich
Healthy Choices to Reduce Fat and Sugar
Switch to low or non-fat milk, yogurt and cheese
Choose lean cuts of meat like skinless chicken or extra lean ground beef for hamburgers or pasta sauces
Bake or grill instead of fry
Substitute olive or vegetable oil for butter
Substitute water or low-fat milk for sodas or sugar-sweetened beverages
Switch to lower sugar breakfast cereals
Switch desserts like ice cream and cake for fruit-based desserts
Snacks
Reduce the number of snacks served each day
Leave a bowl of fruit or carrot sticks on the kitchen table
Differentiate between snacks that require permission (cookies), versus snacks that kids can take freely (fresh or dried fruit or vegetable sticks)
Have kids drink water at snack time
Save "treats" for special occasions
Portion Size
Kids are smaller than adults and should eat smaller portions
Use smaller plates for kids
Don't force kids to clean their plates if they are full
Provide portions equal to the size of the back of a fist—a child’s fist for a child’s portion
Start with a small portion. Children can have seconds if they are still hungry
Eat Together
Family meals focus on eating and enjoying food and each other
Eating together is a chance to model good behavior
Regularly scheduled meal and snack times help kids learn structure for eating
Miss Greater Rochester Fundraiser
Save the Date!
I will be at the Marketplace Mall Saturday and Sunday April 16 and 17th, handing out vouchers for Great Northern Pizza Kitchen that must be used at the Henrietta location,
Sunday April 17th. With each purchase on Sunday, the Miss Greater Rochester Organization will receive 20% of the profit. Tell you friends and family to come out and support us, the more money raised, the more scholarship awarded to the next Miss Greater Rochester and contestants!
I will be at the Marketplace Mall Saturday and Sunday April 16 and 17th, handing out vouchers for Great Northern Pizza Kitchen that must be used at the Henrietta location,
Sunday April 17th. With each purchase on Sunday, the Miss Greater Rochester Organization will receive 20% of the profit. Tell you friends and family to come out and support us, the more money raised, the more scholarship awarded to the next Miss Greater Rochester and contestants!
Pageant Paperwork is Complete!
Workshop weekend is just a few days away! I am super excited to meet everyone! This past weekend, the Miss New York class of 2011 was completed, Congratulations to Lynn Tryon Miss Mohawk Valley 2011. Workshop weekend will be full of information about the Miss New York State Pageant which is just a few months away! Time is flying!
Catch Up
It has been some time since my last post, let me update you:
I absolutely love working out with my trainer Jeff, he has developed a program that's fierce! I'll be in the best shape of my life come June! He gives the best advice for healthy eating substitutes because lord knows I love sweets! :)
Last week I made a radio appearance with WUFO AM " The Spirit of Western New York" Dwayne, interviewed me and asked questions about my journey into pageantry...
How did you become involved?
What's your platform?
What's the difference between Miss USA and Miss America?
After the interview he was more informed about the Miss America Organization. Dwayne along with many others are unaware that Miss America is one of the leading providers of scholarships for women. So it's not a beauty pageant? No, we are much more than just beauty, we are social advocates for change in our community. We are real young women with aspirations. We are perfecting ourselves and always striving to be the best we can be!
I absolutely love working out with my trainer Jeff, he has developed a program that's fierce! I'll be in the best shape of my life come June! He gives the best advice for healthy eating substitutes because lord knows I love sweets! :)
Last week I made a radio appearance with WUFO AM " The Spirit of Western New York" Dwayne, interviewed me and asked questions about my journey into pageantry...
How did you become involved?
What's your platform?
What's the difference between Miss USA and Miss America?
After the interview he was more informed about the Miss America Organization. Dwayne along with many others are unaware that Miss America is one of the leading providers of scholarships for women. So it's not a beauty pageant? No, we are much more than just beauty, we are social advocates for change in our community. We are real young women with aspirations. We are perfecting ourselves and always striving to be the best we can be!
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