Staying lean with "Healthy Kids" Published Oct. 12, 2006 By Amanda Shaffer 43rd Services Squadron POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- With the increasing emphasis placed on body types and figures, more families are taking an interest in how to be healthy. The Pope Youth Center is offering a class which identifies the growing need to educate America's children against obesity with a new healthy lifestyle program. Healthy Kids in the Kitchen is a childhood obesity and nutrition initiative designed to address the urgent issues surrounding childhood obesity and poor nutrition among youth and teens in the military community. The program was created in response to alarming statistics related to the percentages of overweight and obese children and adolescents in the United States, and the fact that these youth have increased chances of developing health problems such as Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. With a combined effort to bring recipes and nutrition tips to children and their families, Pope Youth Programs intend to help address the rapid rise of childhood obesity. Education is the first step to making a lasting change in our children's future. Through the Healthy Kids in the Kitchen Program, as well as the FitFactor program, the Air Force is taking the first step to correct this important issue. For more information on this program, visit www.afgetfit.com. Pope Youth Programs is proud to take part in this initiative and will host the Healthy Kids in the Kitchen events on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, at 5:30 pm at the Youth Center. Youths and teens can create a recipe of their choice, while learning about healthy eating. For more information on Healthy Kids in the Kitchen or other quality programming at the Pope Youth Center, call 394-1045.