Educating kids on how their bodies work so they make healthy lifestyle choices
“As a health care provider, I am a firm believer in the power of prevention, and the best key to prevention is education and information. If children learn how their bodies work, they are more apt to make healthy choices that will give them a head start on a long, healthy life!”
It Began With Pancakes
The Story of Human Body Detectives
My “Aha!” moment for creating the Human Body Detectives series came while I was making breakfast for my daughters, Merrin and Pearl. Prior to that moment, I had been trying to find accessible information for kids to supplement the talks on digestion and nutrition I was giving at local elementary schools, but I was coming up empty-handed. The material I found was too advanced for the kids I was teaching. I wanted entertaining and educational information on the different physiological systems within the body that also addressed how kids can live healthy lives.
As I flipped the pancakes, I realized that I needed to create what I had been searching for. And the Human Body Detectives were born. I joined a local writing group and began writing and editing. More writing, more editing. I had a blast and Merrin and Pearl enjoyed listening to my stories and helping to make them better. My very own test subjects! But I couldn’t stop there.
Dismayed at statistics about the epidemic of childhood obesity and increased illnesses among children as a result of malnutrition, I teamed up with a colleague who holds a master’s degree in education from Stanford and together we created a comprehensive elementary school curriculum for third through fifth graders based on the books I had written. Finally, I had what I’d originally been looking for—a fun, interactive way to engage students and aid them in understanding their body functions and healthy lifestyle choices.
The process has been nothing but rewarding and I am constantly scheming about the next adventure for the Human Body Detectives.
Why HBD Is Important?
I was frustrated until my “aha” moment flipping pancakes. Kids need this information ( even parents tell me they are learning) and here are a few reasons why…
- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 17% of kids and adolescents in the US are obese
- Immediate effects of unhealthy eating patterns include malnutrition and obesity
- The Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics indicates an increased prevalence of chronic diseases among children
- 80% of children do not get the recommended 5 servings of fruit and vegetables a day
How can we expect our kids to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle
if we don’t teach them to be aware of how food affects our bodies?
I want to thank everyone who has helped and supported me through the years. I appreciate all of you and look forward to learning more about how HBD has helped your family!
Elementary curriculum, Middle and High School Nutrition, Functional Nutrition for High School and Know your body, period ( this is coming soon!)
