Posts tagged ‘biking’
Carrot Juice vs Chips: Bike for Life explores the options
Surprise: Kids like carrot juice.
Carrot juice or chips?
Raw peanut butter anyone?
What do you think kids will eat?
Turns out they’ll eat all three, but not necessarily in that order.
I didn’t think they’d like carrot juice, but they did.
They watched intently as the Willy Street Coop juice bar man turned carrots into juice with the flip of a switch. The rich, orange juice flowed out and the kids eagerly drank it up. They also loved watching peanuts turn into peanut butter in the grinder. They liked that it looked kinda gross coming out of the machine, which always helps with kids.
After they tried the juice and peanut butter, I took out chips and chocolate to talk about portion size and choices in food. They squealed with delight. Sugar, salt and fat make for tough competition. No squeals for carrot juice and unsweetened/unsalted peanut butter, but then again, they had never tried them before. On the other hand, junk food, is readily available and a primary cause of obesity in kids.
Can you just 12 chips?
Of course, the real challenge with junk food is how much kids eat.
Did you know that there are about 12 chips and 250 calories in one serving? Have you ever tried eating just 12 chips in a sitting? That’s the challenge. I offered single serving bags of chips to make the point.
The next time you sit down to eat chips, challenge yourself and your kids to eat just one serving. And, before you eat, read the ingredient label. Turns out that the nacho cheese flavored chips are loaded with preservatives, whereas simple potato chips contain just potatoes, oil and salt. Even in the chip world, there are choices.
As for the chocolate, the package said a serving was half the bar. This seemed like a lot so we talked about that. Can you eat just a few squares of chocolate and put the rest away for another day? I know I can’t, which is why I don’t eat chips or eat sugar. I shared this with the kids so they know that there’s a choice. They don’t get it, but then again, they don’t have to, just yet.
Kids are smart and while most of their food choices are made by others, I believe that this information will make a difference to them.
Perhaps not now, but in the future.
What do you think?
Bike for Life is an obesity prevention program created and run by Diane Schwartz out of the Goodman Community Center. It’s funded by the Endres Foundation and the Rosenlund Family Foundation. The group is enjoying the great fall weather by biking around Madison. Next week, we’ll head up to the Capitol.
Is it ever too hot?
I wrote this piece during the last heat wave. Now that we’re deep into our second heat wave of the summer, it’s a good time to post.
I didn’t want to, but I cancelled Bike for Life on Friday afternoon (July 1) because the temperatures were 90 degrees with a heat index of 97.
Wisconsin licensing rules forbid children from engaging in outdoor activity when it’s above 90 degrees (except swimming of course). The rule is designed to keep kids safe, but it is also restrictive.
Yes, it was hot, but it wasn’t too hot for a healthy kid to bike less than a mile to Olbrich Park, go swimming, and then bike back. Imagine what kids do in the south? They would never go outside in the summer with a rule like that.
I believe that rules like this teach kids to fear the outdoors. For example, we went skiing in sub zero temperatures and the kids were fine. They learned what to do to stay warm. The same is true of heat. The kids lost a valuable opportunity.
Next year, I’ll plan bike club in the mornings to avoid cancellations. I can’t change the rules, but I can change the times that we ride.
And, if it’s hot on Friday, I’ll be planning to do something else.
What do you do when the weather’s hot?
$1 Snack Attack: What will kids choose to eat?
What will kids buy if they only have $1 to spend on a snack?
That was the Bike for Life challenge last week.
The kids could choose from the following as long as they stayed under $1:
- apple or banana – 22-60 cents
- cheese stick – 33 cents
- 1 oz peanuts – 22 cents
- 1 candy bar – 93 cents
- Single serving bag of chips 33 cents
Before they made their choices, we talked about each item and its nutritional value. We also looked at portion size and learned how to read a nutrition label.
Then, we biked to Copps grocery store on Aberg and took a tour of the departments. The store manager gave us a tour and the kids made their choices.
Of the six boys, 1 chose peanuts, two chose an apple and cheese stick, 1 chose the chips, and two chose the candy bar. Of the 7 girls, all bought an apple along with either the nuts or a cheese stick.
For whatever reason, it appears the boys felt freer to buy junk food. The two boys were giddy that I’d let them buy candy. If given money and the choice, some kids will always buy candy.
When I asked John why he chose the chips, he said “I just felt like a chip.” Perhaps he associated chips with a reward, or he craved the salt. Regardless, nutrition had nothing to do with his choice.
The girls all chose a healthy snack: either an apple and nuts, or an apple and cheese stick. One person commented that she didn’t get the candy because she could buy two things for her money instead of one candy bar. Just like John, nutrition had nothing to do with her choice. It’s also possible that the girls wanted to please me or were driven by peer pressure. Since none of the girls said they wanted a candy bar, perhaps it was too risky for a lone candy bar lover to break from the pack. I wonder what would have happened if just one boy would have wanted the candy. Would he have risked speaking up?
Overall, I think it was a good experiment. Most of the kids chose healthy snacks despite less healthy options. Next time, I’ll ask more questions about why they chose what they did. Healthy eating takes a lifetime to learn and this was a small learning step. Two things are certain, 1) kids have lots of reason for choosing what they eat and 2) the will never forget (I hope) the day that their teacher gave them $1 to spend anyway they wanted.
The Ferocious 5: The joy of same-sex bike groups
Isaiah, Micah, Buba, Cashel and Gavin look cool on the Goodman Center's new bikes.
Meet the Ferocious 5: Isaiah, Micah, Buba, Cashel and Gavin.
The boys make up my morning Bike for Life group at the Goodman Community Center.
I have a girl group in the afternoon.
While I didn’t plan it this way, I’m seeing the benefits of same-sex groups.
I find it easier to manage behaviors in same-sex groups because the behaviors are similar. In this case, the boys are more competitive. They argue more and listen less. They want to go fast, but then poop out. The girls don’t argue at all and they’re better listeners. They pace themselves and have more stamina. If they’re competitive, they don’t show it, or at least not yet.
Neither is better, but the energies are so very different.
Of course, same-sex groups may not work this smoothly in all cases, but I’m happy with them so far.
Bike for Life meets every Friday for 9 more weeks. Stay tuned for more stories about the Ferocious 5 and the Girl Group.
Bike for Life teaches kids how to love biking so they’ll want to do it forever. In addition, they’ll learn about healthy snacks so that they’ll stay fit.
Biking: Independence on Wheels
Icie and Micah show off our super cool folding bikes outside the Goodman Community Center after our first neighborhood ride.
A bike is an independence machine.
called Bike for Life. Bike for Life teaches kids how to safely ride and navigate city bike paths and roads. It also strives to get kids moving and teach them about healthy nutrition. Obesity is a huge issue today, especially among minority populations. Of course, the serious stuff is disguised in the fun and adventure of biking.
Kids get Bikes on Thursday!
Six kids will get a new bike on Thursday.
They’re excited and I’m excited.
They’ve worked hard at doing service around the Goodman Community Center. They’ve washed windows, picked up trash and worked with preschoolers. They’ve written book reports too.
We’ll walk to the Wheels for Winners garage on Thursday and the kids will pick out their bikes. I can’t wait.
Let’s Go Biking: New folding bikes arriving soon
Really cool Schwinn folding bike. Gotta love the back rack. Makes you want to ride doesn't it?
“Let’s go biking!”
We will receive five Schwinn folding bikes next week. These bikes form the foundation of a new bike program at the Goodman Community Center. I am very excited about this program and will start taking kids on trips as soon as the bikes arrive.
Why folding bikes? Well, they are much easier to store and they look really cool. The kids will love them. Plus Willy Street Bikes gave us a really good deal.
Stay tuned for more information on this exciting program.
Tell me what you think? Do you like to bike? Have you ridden a folding bike? What are your favorite places to ride with kids?
It’s beautiful day in Wisconsin. Unfortunately, Diane is stuck inside writing grants in order to take more kids outside. If you’d like to contribute to Get Kids Outside, please “like” this article. If you’d like to donate to Get Kids Outside, just email me with your donation amount and I’ll forward a Paypal link. Thank you.
Wheels for Winners: Kids earn a bike for service
Every kid should have a bike. Period. Biking promotes independence and fitness but most of all it’s fun.
Wheels for Winners is one of the coolest organizations on the planet because they put bikes in the hands of kids – and adults – that can’t afford them.
The program is easy.
Kids do 15 hours of community service and earn a bike, helmet, lock and license.
I just started working with five 3rd and 4th graders on this program. We’re doing jobs around the Goodman Community Center and they love it. Kids love being of service. It boosts their self-worth and teaches them about the world. Remarkably, one of my kids is doing the program just to do the service. She already has a bike!
If you know of a kid who doesn’t have a bike and can’t afford one, let them know about this program. Many organizations would be happy to work with you. And, if you can’t do service, kids can write 5 book reports instead. The reports don’t have to be scholarly, just enough to let them know that you read the book.
It’s a great program. Let me know what you think.
You can find Diane working with kids at the Goodman Community Center or at Schumacher Farm Park looking for pasque flowers. Register for this blog now and receive a free 11-page Bubble Activity Guide. Oh, and don’t forget to “like” what you see.
Gearing up for Summer Fun!
School’s almost out for summer.
That means Summer Camp is just around the corner. At Goodman Community Center, we offer a 10 week program of summer fun. Biking, field trips, insect adventures, arts and crafts, swimming, fishing and hiking are just a few of the activities available to kids.
The best part of summer is that I get more time to do activities with kids. We can take bike rides to the Capitol. We can plant bug traps and explore insects at our leisure. We can go swimming and be lazy and just stare at clouds. We can make gimp key chains and sand art and other classic summer crafts.
As I kid, I loved doing these things and I still fondly remember hanging out at the local park playing wink and making gimp necklaces with the recreation staff.
As a teacher, I get to give kids these memories.
I can’t think of anything that’s better than that and I look forward to sharing my triumphs and challenges here with you.
Are you excited or scared about summer? What do you do with your kids? What works? what doesn’t? Remember it’s a short season, so have fun!
Diane Schwartz is a K-5 teacher at the Goodman Community Center in Madison, WI. She leads hiking, skiing and biking adventures. She also sells bubble wands. For a free 11-page Bubble Activity Guide, just go to the home page and subscribe to this blog.
Building life long habits
How do you instill lifelong habits in kids? I believe this happens when they have a great time doing an activity and they gain confidence with the task. That was my goal with my first adventure camp: Spokes and Jokes. I wanted kids to experience what I felt as a kid about biking and what I continue to feel about biking.
Biking has always been a source of great pleasure and accomplishment for me. I remember my first bike like it was yesterday. It was a gold two-wheeler and I have vague memories of learning how to ride it. I was about 6 years old and was living on University Avenue across the street from St. Bernards Church. My dad ran behind me on the sidewalk as I peddled. I’ll never forget the moment I got balance. It was so exciting. I was free and could move so fast on my own. I could go places.
My second bike was a blue one-speed coaster bike with a blue fender and a blue and white seat. It was a full sized bike and I was very proud of it. It had tassels on the handlebars. I got it for Christmas the year after my dad died. I remember seeing it by the Christmas tree and feeling like I should be jumping up and down for joy. But I didn’t. I felt lonely and sad. It was a nice bike, but it was a sad Christmas. It was a bitter sweet gift.
My third bike was was a white three-speed bike with hand brakes. I put baskets on the back and used it hard to deliver newspapers during high school. I rode that bike all year long in all kinds of weather and I loved the feeling of not being cold while riding a bike. I had a face mask and really warm mittens. I felt invincible after riding on a snowy or really cold day.
With the money I earned from my paper route, I bought my first 10 speed.To me, this bike was a speed racer. I bought it at Middleton Cycle. It had racing handlebars and more speeds that I thought I could use. I could ride faster than ever on this bike. It was red and took pride in keeping it clean and shiny. I would use window cleaner to polish the chrome and apply touch-up paint whenever I got a nick.
By now, I was certainly hooked on biking though I didn’t have a name for it. I started riding longer distances and discovered touring. All I knew is that I couldn’t live without my bike. I took this red bike with me to college. During my first summer at the UW, I rode back and forth to campus on my bike. I worked at the A&W rootbeer stand on Allen Boulevard and commuted to my Henry Street Apt a few times a week. The ride was about 7 miles one way and again I loved how my body felt after a ride and how much freedom I felt about that.
I would have a series of bikes through college, each one a little bit newer. A few were stolen due my carelessness. In college, I discovered road biking and started riding longer distances. I had a few friends that like to tour and this added another dimension to riding. Now, it was all about exploration and less about function, though I still used my bike for transportation to and from campus.
Since then I have continued to enjoy biking. I bought a 15 speed Panasonic Touring bike in the early 1980s and used to travel all over the state. I loved riding long distances with a top daily mileage of 115 miles. I worked in a Girl Scout Camp for a summer and led bike tours for kids just before returning to graduate school. I used biking throughout grad school to manage stress and keep fit. It worked.
I now own a Bianchi Volpe, and continue to ride between 25-50 miles a week. I ride my Fuji City bike to work. I’m lucky to have two bikes and all the gear to make biking really enjoyable such as helmut, lock and light. Because so many kids do not have even the basics, it will be important to provide kids with a bike, helmut and lock.
Then, all that is required is to provide activities that instill that feeling of freedom and joy. With any luck, a life-long habit will result.
