Latest news with #Healthy
USA Today
9 hours ago
- Health
- USA Today
Michelle Obama is still 'not letting up' about kids' nutrition
Michelle Obama isn't giving up on her yearslong goals when it comes to kids' health. Over 15 years since she first championed new nutrition standards for student lunches, the former first lady said that she's not "letting up any time soon" on pushing for healthier habits. In a Parents Magazine interview published July 22, Obama, 61, said that "we've simply got to make it easier for families to raise healthier kids. We need to make the healthy option the easy option." "We've got to make it easy for parents to afford − and cook with − fresh ingredients," Obama continued. "We've got to make it easy for kids to get some exercise during the school day. We've got to make it easy for everybody to hydrate themselves without loading up on sugar." Michelle Obama: 'Everyone would know' if she divorced Barack Obama: 'I'm not a martyr' Obama −who said that "children's health is about so much more than our kids" − told Parents that "what's available in our stores, what's on the menu in schools, whether or not our kids can play safely at the playground, it all ladders up to the wellbeing of our families and communities." "It's a challenge I've tackled from a variety of ways for more than a decade and a half. And I'm not letting up any time soon," she added. Obama got candid for the interview as Parents honors her with its Next Gen Awards, which applauds the work of 40 "changemakers" that have "made life better for kids and families this year." When did Michelle Obama start advocating for school lunch changes? Obama has advocated for healthier nutrition for children since the first term of her husband and former President Barack Obama, who took office in 2009. He signed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act into law in 2010 and Michelle Obama supported the idea to improve the nutrition of school lunches and farm-to-school programs. During her husband's second term in 2014, she sparred with some congressional Republicans, who believed the school lunch nutrition issue was local versus federal. Michelle Obama discusses parenting daughters Malia and Sasha in the White House In the Parents interview, Michelle Obama, mom to Malia Ann, 27, and 24-year-old Sasha Obama, also got candid about parenting, telling the outlet that she and former President Obama, 63, "did everything we could to give our girls as normal of a life as possible" while they were growing up. "When we were at the White House, we made sure they were doing things like making their beds every morning and as they got older, getting summer jobs," she added. A post shared by Parents (@parents) Michelle Obama reveals daughter Malia Obama's name change The "IMO" podcast cohost said that her daughters' lives "slowly began to inch a little closer toward normalcy," but their "extraordinary" circumstances have "forced them to learn critical skills like discipline, flexibility, and determination to go after what they really wanted." Now, Malia Ann is pursuing a film career in Hollywood and recently helmed a 2023 short film "The Heart" which she wrote and directed. The Obamas celebrated the birthday of their youngest daughter Sasha, a University of Southern California grad, last month. Contributing: David Jackson, Christine Rushton
Time of India
24-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
World's Best School Prizes 2026: Four Indian schools earn spot among top global finalists
CHANDIGARH: A government school in Haryana's Faridabad, one of the four Indian schools named among the top 10 finalists across different categories for the annual World's Best School Prizes organised in the UK, is leading the change to help transform the lives of scores of girl students by focusing and implementing physical and mental health wellbeing, nutritional support and community engagement. The Government Girls Senior Secondary School NIT-5 in Faridabad was selected for transforming the lives of at-risk girls by interlinking nutritional programmes, physical well-being and mental health support with education to break down societal barriers and ensure no girl is left behind. It is on the list of 10 finalists for the prize under the Supporting Healthy Lives category. The five World's Best School Prizes -- for Community Collaboration, Environmental Action, Innovation, Overcoming Adversity and Supporting Healthy Lives -- were founded by UK-headquartered T4 Education in the wake of COVID-19 to give a platform to schools that are changing lives in their classrooms and beyond. "In a world being turned upside down by AI, as technology reshapes the way we learn and renders jobs that have existed for centuries obsolete, amid growing challenges of climate change, conflict, poverty and populism, the world our young people are entering has never felt more precarious. And a good education, with humans at its heart, has never been more important," said Vikas Pota, Founder of T4 Education and the World's Best School Prizes. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Laxmi Ji Idol For Wealth, Peace & Happiness Luxeartisanship Shop Now Undo Besides the Government Girls Senior Secondary School NIT-5 in Faridabad, schools from Maharashtra, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh were also unveiled as contenders for membership to the Best School to Work programme to help schools attract and retain the best teachers, and celebrate the schools' enormous contribution to society's progress. The winners across categories will be announced in October. T4 Education calls itself a global platform bringing together a community of over 2,00,000 teachers from more than 100 countries to transform education. Dr Avinasha Sharma, who was an English teacher at the Faridabad school before being posted in another government school in the neighbourhood, recalled several initiatives which have been taken by the school from time to time helping it find its place being shortlisted among the top 10 finalists. A nutrition awareness programme at the school teaches students how to eat healthily while the students tend to a school vegetable garden. "During the period I was in the school and later also whatever initiatives were taking place, we worked towards healthy lives of children including focusing on their mental and physical well-being. Specifically, the area also revolved around the girl child, their health, counselling about menstruation cycles, and whether they are anaemic or not. We have been working on various sessions related to mental wellbeing, specifically focused on aiming for a purposeful life," Sharma said. NGOs also contribute to enhancing infrastructure and services. "We have various NGOs who have been conducting sessions in school premises and supporting school infrastructure also, in terms of sports activities. One of the NGOs has supported creating a football ground for students," she said. For Class 12 students, the teachers engage with students and parents to highlight the importance of higher education and career choice to support girls in building careers. The school facilitates parent workshops on health, nutrition, and education, and teachers and community volunteers personally visit homes, inviting parents to attend, she said. The school is empowering scores of students to confidently embrace the opportunities they deserve. Sharma said what makes this school different from others is here the leadership preserved whatever has been gifted from the community. "We tried to maintain whatever has been given. So, that's why this school has always been first choice among the CSR initiatives across Faridabad. That is the key to the success of the entire initiatives being taken up by the school," she said. K C Kaliya, the school principal, who was transferred from another school in Gurugram and posted in the Faridabad school on May 9, said the institute runs classes from Class 1 to 12 and is affiliated to the Board of School Education, Haryana. The number of students at the Government Girls Senior Secondary School NIT-5, Faridabad, is about 1,500, he said. "We have 57 teachers besides 13 junior teachers for Classes 1 to 5. The school has over 40 well-equipped classrooms. Each year we have a very good result which varies between 99 to 100 per cent pass percentage," Kaliya said. Expressing his happiness at the school being among the top 10 finalists, the principal said, "Over the years, the school has grown from strength to strength." He said the school regularly holds camps and seminars. "Along with studies, the physical and mental health of students is given priority," he said. "The students take part in extracurricular activities, excelling in yoga, sports and cultural competitions," he said. The principal said many pursue higher education, competitive exams, and leadership roles within their communities. The winners will be chosen by an expert Judging Academy, with all 50 finalist schools across five categories also taking part in a public vote opened this week to determine the winner of the Community Choice Award. The worldwide winners across these categories will be announced in October, with all the finalists and winners invited to the World Schools Summit in Abu Dhabi on November 15-16. Is your child ready for the careers of tomorrow? Enroll now and take advantage of our early bird offer! Spaces are limited.
Time of India
20-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Haryana's government girls school recognised among top 10 schools worldwide for supporting healthy lives
CHANDIGARH: Government Girls Senior Secondary School NIT-5, Faridabad, is among the four Indian schools that were on Wednesday named among the top 10 finalists across different categories for the annual World's Best School Prizes, organised in the UK to celebrate schools' enormous contribution to society's progress. Schools from Haryana, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh were unveiled as contenders for membership to the Best School to Work programme to help schools attract and retain the best teachers. The winners across categories will be announced in October. "This achievement is inspirational for the government schools of the state. This also proves that government schools can excel on the global platform," Haryana's Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda said on Thursday. Education Minister Dhanda said the success of the Faridabad school will propel other government schools in the state towards innovation and student welfare. With this, he said, the reform initiatives like smart classrooms, STEM labs (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics lab) and teachers' training by the state government will fresh impetus. The five World's Best School Prizes for Community Collaboration, Environmental Action, Innovation, Overcoming Adversity and Supporting Healthy Lives were founded by UK-headquartered T4 Education in the wake of COVID-19 to give a platform to schools that are changing lives in their classrooms and beyond. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo T4 Education calls itself a global platform, bringing together a community of over 2,00,000 teachers from more than 100 countries to transform education. The government school in Faridabad has been selected for transforming the lives of at-risk girls by interlinking nutritional programmes, physical well-being, and mental health support with education to break down societal barriers and ensure no girl is left behind. It is on the list of 10 finalists for the prize under the Supporting Healthy Lives category. The winners will be chosen by an expert Judging Academy, with all 50 finalist schools across five categories also taking part in a public vote opened this week to determine the winner of the Community Choice Award. The worldwide winners across these categories will be announced in October, with all the finalists and winners invited to the World Schools Summit in Abu Dhabi on November 15-16. The winning schools will share their best practices, unique expertise and experience with policymakers and leading figures in global education. Is your child ready for the careers of tomorrow? Enroll now and take advantage of our early bird offer! Spaces are limited.
Hindustan Times
19-06-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Faridabad govt school among 4 Indian schools selected as finalists for World's Best School Prizes
Chandigarh, Government Girls Senior Secondary School NIT-5, Faridabad, is among the four Indian schools that were on Wednesday named among the top 10 finalists across different categories for the annual World's Best School Prizes, organised in the UK to celebrate schools' enormous contribution to society's progress. Schools from Haryana, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh were unveiled as contenders for membership to the Best School to Work programme to help schools attract and retain the best teachers. The winners across categories will be announced in October. "This achievement is inspirational for the government schools of the state. This also proves that government schools can excel on the global platform," Haryana's Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda said on Thursday. Education Minister Dhanda said the success of the Faridabad school will propel other government schools in the state towards innovation and student welfare. With this, he said, the reform initiatives like smart classrooms, STEM labs and teachers' training by the state government will fresh impetus. The five World's Best School Prizes for Community Collaboration, Environmental Action, Innovation, Overcoming Adversity and Supporting Healthy Lives were founded by UK-headquartered T4 Education in the wake of COVID-19 to give a platform to schools that are changing lives in their classrooms and beyond. T4 Education calls itself a global platform, bringing together a community of over 2,00,000 teachers from more than 100 countries to transform education. The government school in Faridabad has been selected for transforming the lives of at-risk girls by interlinking nutritional programmes, physical well-being, and mental health support with education to break down societal barriers and ensure no girl is left behind. It is on the list of 10 finalists for the prize under the Supporting Healthy Lives category. The winners will be chosen by an expert Judging Academy, with all 50 finalist schools across five categories also taking part in a public vote opened this week to determine the winner of the Community Choice Award. The worldwide winners across these categories will be announced in October, with all the finalists and winners invited to the World Schools Summit in Abu Dhabi on November 15-16. The winning schools will share their best practices, unique expertise and experience with policymakers and leading figures in global education.
Business Journals
17-06-2025
- Health
- Business Journals
How H2M architects + engineers brought fresh food to Troy through adaptive reuse
For people living in food deserts, it is common to subsist on prepackaged, ultra-processed foods from convenience stores and fast-food establishments. However, these types of foods have been linked to a higher risk of a wide range of health conditions, including obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. In fact, a 2023 study by the American Cancer Society found that people with little or no access to healthy foods have a shorter lifespan on average than those with greater levels of access. To address these disparities, which disproportionately affect low-income Americans, developers should be incentivized to locate and operate new supermarkets within food deserts. New York City, for example, administers both the Healthy Food & Healthy Communities (HFHC) Fund and Food Retail Expansion Program to Support Health (FRESH), two programs that offer zoning and financial incentives to encourage the development of grocery stores in underserved areas. However, in lieu of grants or other public funding sources, adaptive reuse can provide a cost-effective way to provide critical life-improving resources in dense areas with limited open space. Last year, Bargain Grocery, an affordable grocery store operated by the not-for-profit Compassion Coalition, opened its second-ever location in Troy, New York. Compassion Coalition uses the proceeds from both the new Bargain Grocery and the original location in Utica, New York, to fund its mission of providing food, clothing, transportation, and shelter to the underprivileged — raising approximately $20 million dollars in support so far. Rather than identify a site for a ground-up building construction, the developer First Columbia Real Estate partnered with H2M architects + engineers to reuse a 15,000-square-foot cardboard manufacturing facility built in the mid-1800s. Our adaptive reuse work involved the preparation of historic surveys and architectural designs that respect the character of the edifice, including a new refrigeration area, dual-level loading docks, and an accessible path into the grocery store. The building also received electrical system upgrades, structural fortification, and a brand-new heating, ventilation, and cooling system. By utilizing the principles of adaptive reuse and paying close attention to historic preservation guidelines, we transformed and reenergized an older but structurally-sound building into a valuable community resource with a completely new purpose. The load-bearing brick-and-timber-frame building features all-new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems and technology, but retains its 19th-century aesthetic to help preserve Troy's history as a center for manufacturing. Adaptive reuse also allowed us to complete the work with less construction waste and for less money than traditional design and construction methods. The technical ingenuity of the store's design and its impact on access to fresh food in the Troy community earned the Bargain Grocery project team a State Historic Preservation Award for Excellence in Non-Profit Achievement from the New York State Historic Preservation Office. The awards, given out annually as part of the New York Statewide Preservation Conference, recognize the most inventive and culturally significant preservation and rejuvenation projects across New York State. Old factories, banks, schoolhouses, churches, storefronts, and municipal buildings — whether historic or not — still have plenty to offer for those willing to think outside the box and redefine what a grocery store can look like. By collaborating with architecture and engineering consultants well-versed in adaptive reuse, developers and municipalities can make the most of their unused space to transform food deserts into flourishing oases. H2M architects + engineers is a full-service consulting and design firm offering the expertise of over 580 architects, engineers, planners, designers, inspectors, surveyors, and scientists. Our professionals combine technical experience and specialized market knowledge to meet architectural, engineering, and environmental challenges head-on. H2M offers a practical approach with creative results. For more information, visit Katrina N. Pacheco, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, MCPPO, has more than 30 years of architectural design experience, including expertise in the production, evaluation, and construction administration of over 100 public safety buildings. Katrina also serves as Director of AIA's Eastern New York chapter and teaches Professional Practice at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
