Healthy eating

Think your kid isn't tempted by junk food while at school? A study finds that about half of kids surveyed from public and private school had ready access to vending machines, snack bars, school stores and a la carte lines. And they're not just selling carrot sticks.

The study, released Monday in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, looked at the foods children had access to at various spots on campus during lunch time, in what they termed "competitive venues."

PLANO, Texas -- Cinemark Holdings, Inc. announced the rollout of the Lite Bites snack pack expanding upon the healthier and lower calorie food and beverage options available at the concession stand.

Cinemark has been testing Lite Bites snack packs in select theatres over that past several months. Lite Bites contains a 16oz. Coke Zero, a Jamba(R) Fruit & Nut Trail Mix, and a calorie-counter's portion of Cinemark's Orville Redenbacher popcorn. Lite Bites weighs in at less than 450 calories and will be expanding to numerous Cinemark theatres across the country.

Imagine you have a leaky roof. The roofer comes over, puts down some buckets, hands you a hefty bill and leaves without fixing the roof.

You'd never tolerate that, right?

Yet something similar happens in medicine all the time, and patients rarely complain.

Excessive weight is the underlying repairable cause of most chronic illnesses treated today. But instead of tackling the weight problem (the leaky roof) patients often take medications (buckets) for the illnesses caused by their weight problem.

CHICAGO -- Researchers say there's a new way to tell if infants are likely to become obese later on: Check to see if they've passed two key milestones on doctors' growth charts by age 2.

CLINTON -- The Clinton Elementary PTA was selected by the National PTA to receive a Healthy Lifestyles Grant to promote good nutrition and physical activity.

The Clinton group will receive $1,000 to launch the "Be Smart, Eat Smart" campaign, which dedicates one week a month to educating students about healthy choices and good habits. Teachers will implement healthy-eating tips into their lesson plans during each designated week and students will be given a lunchtime punch card that reminds them to consume a fruit or vegetable as part of their lunch.

LOS ANGELES -- French fries, slathered with ketchup and washed down with a pint of soda, are a favorite part of fast-food lunches and dinners for millions of American youngsters.

But taking a cue from nutritionists, a group of 19 restaurant companies are pledging to offer more healthful menu options for children at a time when concern is growing over the role of fast food in childhood obesity.