•  If you teach children that foods high in sugar and fats are unhealthy, will they eat more of them?

•  If you teach sexual education, will more teenage Moms have babies?

•  If you teach young kids to avoid putting objects in their noses and ears, will they do it more often?

The answer is NO!

Supporters of Making Proud Choices! for instance, say that sex education curriculum arms teenagers with essential information to protect themselves from unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Its detractors claim the curriculum simply encourages sexual activity among minors.  Well, low and behold, the Obama administration and Congress in 2010 eliminated two thirds of federal funding for abstinence-only-until-marriage education, and allocated close to $190m for comprehensive sex education. In fact, SIECUS (Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States ) acknowledges that comprehensive programs are effective in helping young people delay sexual activity.

“Let’s Move! is a comprehensive initiative, launched by the First Lady, dedicated to solving the challenge of childhood obesity within a generation, so that children born today will grow up healthier and able to pursue their dreams. Combining comprehensive strategies with common sense, Let’s Move! is about putting children on the path to a healthy future during their earliest months and years. Giving parents helpful information and fostering environments that support healthy choices. Providing healthier foods in our schools. Ensuring that every family has access to healthy, affordable food. And, helping kids become more physically active.”

Additionally, the SNAP Education and Evaluation Study (Wave II), evaluated the impact of several nutrition education programs on fruit and vegetable consumption among low-income elementary school children and seniors. The results demonstrated that children participating in certain nutrition education programs increased their daily fruit and vegetable consumption at home by a quarter- to a third-cup, and were more likely to choose low-fat or fat-free milk.

A very large study funded by the Don’t Stick Sticks Council has demonstrated conclusively, that if you read the book, Don’t Stick Sticks Up Your Nose, Don’t Stuff Stuff In Your Ears! to your children, they will be significantly less likely to put a foreign object in their ears and nose.  The authors of the study stated this:  “Through colorful illustrations and clever rhyming schemes, “Don’t Stick Sticks Up Your Nose! Don’t Stuff Stuff In Your Ears!” provides a fun and engaging way to teach kids not to put dangerous objects where they don’t belong. As anyone with children knows, youngsters’ curiosity can often prompt them to “close” their nostrils and ears by placing a surprising variety of foreign objects into them, including beads, blocks, batteries, coins, rocks, sticks, nuts, and much more. Unfortunately, this leads to serious injury and steep healthcare expenses.” By educating children in a gentle, fun, stress-free way, such as reading, they are much less likely to put things in their ears and nose.

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Education plays an critical role in promoting lifelong healthy eating.

WAIT A SECOND, are you saying, Dr. Altman, education is proven to reduce teen pregnancy and STD rates?

AND, are you saying, Dr. Altman, that nutrition education is successful in promoting healthy eating?

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