HEALTHY Family Program Teaches Families how to Eat Better, Move More - for Free!

Families wanting to learn how to eat better and move more - and who may not have the budget to do so - may want to take a cue from Nicole Sage of Madison Heights (Mich.) and her children, Tiffany and Joseph.

The threesome took part in a recent free healthy breakfast cooking class for parents and children 6 and older at the Beaumont Weight Control Center (Royal Oak, Mich.). The cooking class is part of the Beaumont HEALTHY Family Special Event and Lecture series.

"My kids are really into cooking, so I thought hey, here's an opportunity for them to learn, especially about nutrition," says Nicole Sage.

Registered dietitian Mary Ligotti-Hitch spent the first half of the hour-long class discussing the food pyramid, how to read nutrition labels, the prevalence of sugar in cereals and the importance of eating a balanced diet. Participants sampled soy protein breakfast patties and compared their nutrition content to that of regular sausage patties. The soy patties packed in more protein with less fat.

"You need protein to build muscle and continue to grow as you get older," she told the children in the class.

The class also chose options from food groups such as grains, fruits, protein and milk to build a nutritious breakfast.

Ligotti-Hitch then fired up a stovetop griddle and set the kids to work separating eggs, mashing a banana and measuring cinnamon for French toast - with a dipping batter heavy on egg whites and with whole-wheat bread, of course. Each child dunked his piece of bread while Ligotti-Hitch oversaw the cooking.

Sage says her children eagerly scrutinized food labels during their next food shopping trip after the class. She's sure the class is helping them make healthier food choices.

In addition to cooking classes, the HEALTHY Family series includes informative lectures for parents and fun physical activities for kids such as kickboxing and yoga, encouraging families to incorporate healthy diet and exercise into their lives. All classes are free and are held from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. on Tuesdays.

The next classes are: Fun Physical Activities for Children and"Love and Logic" for Parents, during which kids will enjoy fun activities led by an exercise physiologist while their parents learn tools to promote healthy lifestyles in children, on March 3; and Kids Cooking Class on April 7, where parents and kids will make and eat healthy lunch options. Advance registration is required and can be made by calling 248-655-5900.

The class series is sponsored by Children's Miracle Network. Beaumont is the only CMN-affiliated hospital in Southeast Michigan. CMN raises much-needed money to pay for life-saving equipment, vital pediatric programs and treatment scholarships for families unable to afford care.

The Weight Control Center of Beaumont Hospitals is the nation's largest and most comprehensive center for permanent weight loss for children and adults. Physicians, exercise physiologists, psychologists and registered dietitians staff this innovative center.