Helping Kids Grow Healthy

Tools

Helping Kids Grow Healthy

Denise Nelson is "Making A Difference" through the Sioux Falls are Growing Healthy Initiative.

By Kent Erdahl

For the first time in history, kids today aren't expected to live as long as their parents due, in part, to obesity. Now one local woman is doing something about it, and she's making a difference in the process.

The coordinator of the Sioux falls area growing healthy initiative, Denise Nelson, leads by example.

"We say calories in, calories out," Nelson says. "And so I stand at my computer most of the time."

In five years she has stood long enough to write grants totaling more than $150 thousand.

"I applied for this job because I knew how to write grants but then I started to research more about obesity and I could not believe the statistics that were out there."

Nearly one in three kids in Sioux Falls are obese or at risk for obesity.

That's why Nelson began marking healthy food with growing healthy stickers at supermarkets.

"We want low fat, low sugar," Nelson says.

It's also why she helped start programs like Fit Factor at the Bowden Youth Center, which motivates kids to exercise using electronic games. Because getting kids to play video games powered by exercise bikes is pretty thrilling for the woman who took a stand to make it happen.

"When I see the kids that I've helped out and that have been in some of our programs like the fit factor, it just brings tears to my eyes to see them becoming healthy and knowing that we've touched them in a way that maybe they're going to have a healthier life and maybe a better lifestyle because of Growing Healthy," Nelson says.

Whether it's a healthy guide to fast food or feeding your infant, the Growing Healthy Initiative can make a difference in your life. For more information go to www.healthysiouxfalls.org.

We all salute Denise Nelson for making a difference. If you know someone who is making a difference please e-mail us at youask@ksfy.com.

 

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 500 Characters Left

Comments are moderated and will not appear on this story until after they have been reviewed and deemed appropriate for posting.

KSFY.com and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

Weather


Icon
Current Temp 71 °F
Mostly Cloudy
Wind : Variable at 3 MPH
Humidity : 84 %
Pressure : 29.86" (1010.4 mb)
More Weather

On Demand

Stock Quotes

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

AP Video