In 2006, the Association of Junior Leagues International and Junior Leagues from across four countries initiated an international grass-roots movement called Junior League’s Kids in the Kitchen, designed to help communities address the urgent issues surrounding childhood obesity and poor nutrition.

As part of the international Kids in the Kitchen project, the Junior League of Kalamazoo provided nutritional education and activities to children, helping them adopt healthy nutritional habits. We were fortunate to work with Kalamazoo Communities in Schools, Girls on the Run, Pretty Lake Vacation Camp, The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Kalamazoo, Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan and the YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo.

In working with these organizations, we developed a program and curriculum designed to help kids understand the importance of taking care of your body, making good food choices and exercising. We stressed that you don’t have to give up your favorite foods – just make them fit with a balanced lifestyle and diet!

This League-wide initiative not only addressed a growing problem facing today’s children, but also honored the Junior League’s long heritage of impact on family nutrition over the past 105 years. As part of our Pretty Lake Vacation Camp efforts, we staffed the camp’s carnivals throughout the summer sessions.