Healthy Beginnings was designed to prevent children from becoming overweight and obese. The program drew on research demonstrating the link between being overweight and obese during childhood and immediate and long-term adverse health and social-emotional effects. Recognizing that a child’s environment influences nutrition and physical activity, the program used a family-focused approach to address risk factors associated with childhood obesity.
The model emphasized the following messages:
- “Breast is best”
- “No solids for me until 6 months”
- “I eat a variety of fruit and vegetables everyday”
- “Only water in my cup”
- “I am part of an active family”
- “TV away let’s go play”