As part of the national Let’s Move campaign, First Lady Michelle Obama has announced the Apps for Healthy Kids Challenge, a contest for professional and amateur web developers to submit ideas for online games and mobile apps that promote healthy lifestyles for kids. Learn more about the challenge and submit an application at www.AppsforHealthyKids.com

Many pre-packaged frozen dinners tout “healthy” names or labels, but a closer look at the nutritional facts could reveal anything but healthy ingredients. This article offers eight tips for reading frozen dinner labels so you can make smarter choices.

Food manufacturers often use vague, unclear terms when marketing their food products. Terms like “all natural,” “organic,” “grass-fed,” and “free-range” can mislead consumers to think they’re eating something that is healthier, but that’s not always the case. This website breaks down the industry terms and exposes the truth behind food labels.

A 2006 initiative that began filling school vending machines, that previously offered only sugary sodas and sports drinks, with low-calorie juices, diet sodas, low-fat milk, flavored waters and other better choices, is starting to make a difference among students. According to a new report, kids are buying less of the sugar-packed drinks while at school. Read more. To learn more about Louisiana’s current school vending law, click here.

Numerous studies have shown that uncontrolled diabetes and/or hypertension are associated with an increased risk of developing chronic kidney disease. Screening individuals who are hypertensive or diabetic is a productive way of identifying a high percentage of people who may be at increased risk. The National Kidney Foundation of Louisiana’s Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP)  is offering FREE screenings throughout the year to identify individuals at increased risk for kidney disease. Find a health screening in your area by entering your zip code in the search box provided. Take the Kidney Quiz or get more information on the 10 ways to keep your kidneys healthy.

Sugar can take many forms, both natural and synthetic. During food processing and preparation, food manufacturers add all kinds of sugars whose names you may not recognize on the label. Here’s a list of the types of “added sugars” you may find hiding in your food’s list of ingredients.

Healthy employees can make a healthy bottom line for businesses by promoting healthy behaviors like physical activity. This website provides specific tips and resources on how to implement healthy policies and programs in the workplace.

A new study conducted by West Virginia University suggests that a child’s fitness level may be associated with how well he/she performs academically. Read  more.

March is colon cancer awareness month. In a statewide show of force against colorectal cancer, American Cancer Society volunteers and advocates will gather Thursday, March 4 in Baton Rouge, Monroe, Alexandria, Shreveport and New Orleans to ask the legislature to continue funding the FIT Colon Project, a program that provides colorectal cancer prevention and early detection screenings to uninsured and underinsured Louisianans. These events are open to the public and all attendees are encouraged to wear blue. For more information or to find an event in your area, email Andrew Muhl at andrew.muhl@cancer.org. To get updates about these activities on Facebook, visit the Louisiana Supports Colon Cancer Prevention Facebook fan page. For more information about colon cancer and risk factors, visit this page.

A new study conducted by the Hood Center for Children and Families at Dartmouth Medical School links product placement of junk food and beverages in movies to obesity among children and adolescents. Read more about the findings and what’s being done to change the film industry. Photo by: Capt Kodak