The Natchez Chapter of The Links, Incorporated is the recent recipient of a “Can you Imagine Me?” grant in the amount of $2,500 from the organization’s national headquarters in Washington D.C.

The purpose of the grant is to promote healthy eating and physical activity among boys and girls ages 8 to 12. The Natchez Chapter is one of 17 chapters awarded grants in response to childhood obesity in the United States.

“Can you Imagine Me?” grants are proactive in nature and designed to train children in nutrition and wellness. Participants will learn how to, use the “my plate” system to select nutritionally correct food portions, count calories and develop food intake goals based on their height, weight and body mass indices.

I wrote the proposal and application. The curriculum and instructional strategies are well-developed and will use teaching and assessment models that incorporate the latest research data on the dietary needs of children 8 to 12. Physical activities will be stressed as a means of burning calories to achieve and maintain appropriate weight goals.

I serve as the chairman of the local standing committee — Health and Human Services. Other members of the committee are Registered Nurse Betty Johnson; Demetria Reed, Dr. Bernadette Sherman; Jenette Wilson and Jacquelyn Wright.

Connecting-Links (husbands), Dr. Alphonse Reed, Dr. J.R. Todd Jr. and Dr. Benny Wright will serve as consultants.

Evelyn Stiner — RN, FNP, Ph.D. — will also serve as a consultant.

The grant will consist of seven sessions of lecture-type presentations and seven physical activity sessions at Natchez Community Hospital.

All children ages 8 to 12 are eligible and invited to participate. Nutritious snacks will be served. Mothers or guardians may also attend to enhance their knowledge in meal planning and preparation, food selection and purchasing.

One of the major goals of the grant is to help families develop a physical activity program to burn unneeded calories.

Grant participation is open to all boys and girls ages 8 to 12 and not limited to chubby or overweight children.

Register your child from 1 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at Prince Street Day Care Center, 2 Prince St., Natchez.

For more information, please contact me at 601-446-7332.

 

Fredericka C. Todd is a member of the Natchez Chapter of The Links, Inc.