Push for fit kids gets a boost (video) - Argus Leader

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These days, the Growing Healthy Initiative is focusing on education, working with childcare providers and schools throughout the state, coordinator Denise Nelson said.

Even though the overweight and obesity rate for kids hasn't changed much in recent years, it's working, Nelson said.

"It's finally starting to, especially in the Sioux Falls public school system," she said. "We've been working with them for years in improving the healthy choices in the lunchroom."

The group also has suggested to schools that they change the physical education curriculum to include not only team sports but activities such as yoga, dance and biking - "things that you never grow out of," Nelson said.

Education is a key component to Michelle Obama's issue, said Dr. Kimberlee McKay, an obstetrician/gynecologist with Avera McKennan Women's Center. She likens Obama's educational initiatives to the DARE program back in the Reagan administration

"We talked about saying no to drugs in school all the time," McKay said.

Now, she is seeing a similar effect with her nieces and nephews, who are starting to learn about healthy eating.

"They'll see me drinking a Diet Coke and they'll say, 'Aunt Kim, you shouldn't be drinking that. You should really choose water or milk.' "

But education goes only so far.

"I think (Michelle Obama) misses the biggest problem to providing a healthy diet, and that's eating on a budget," said Annie Bosler, a mom from Inwood, Iowa.

"For some people, it may be a lack of information, as she calls it. But even with all the information in the world, it's a fact that it's a lot more expensive to keep your kitchen stocked with fresh produce for snacks than it is to buy a few boxes of crackers or generic Pop-Tarts. ... For some families, especially those that don't qualify for any assistance, a mom only has so many choices if she wants to put food on the table. For some families, better information might be the answer. But for many, information is not the answer."

Still, there's hope that with Michelle Obama's backing, at least some people will pay attention - and take action.

"It is so refreshing to know that someone is going to take the lead on this," Nelson said. "With all these small little nonprofits trying to get the word out there, with someone at the national level bringing attention to this, it's going to bring it faster into the lives of everyone who needs it."

Reach Janna Farley at jjfarley@argusleader.com.

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