September is National Childhood
Obesity Awareness Month.
Its focus is on improving the health of our children, the next generation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one of every five children, or about 17 percent, are faced with obesity. It’s a serious health concern for many reasons.

Childhood obesity puts kids at risk for health problems that were once seen only in adults, like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
How can National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month make a difference?

We can all use this month to raise awareness about the obesity epidemic and show people how they can take steps toward a solution. Make a difference for kids: spread the word about strategies for preventing childhood obesity and encourage communities, organizations, families, and individuals to get involved.
Here are just a few ideas:
  • Encourage families to make small changes, like keeping fresh fruit within reach or going on a family walk after dinner.
  • Motivate teachers and administrators to make schools healthier.
  • Help them provide healthy food options and daily physical activities for students.
  • Ask doctors and nurses to be leaders in their communities by supporting programs to prevent childhood obesity.
As a parent, there are some steps you can take to help reduce your child’s risk of having weight-related issues.
How Parents Can Help:

Diabetes Information:
Make healthy eating fun for your family with this extra healthy breakfast, brunch or dessert recipe! Best of all, it's so easy to make with your favorite fresh fruit, a gluten-free granola crust and Greek yogurt.
Healthy Fruit Pizza
Prep Time : 20 Minutes
Cook Time : 10 Minutes

Ingredients :

Crust
  • 2 cups old fashioned oats
  • 3/4 cup oat flour
  • 3 tablespoons coconut oil, room temperature (melted butter can be substituted)
  • 3/4 cup honey
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt

Yogurt Filling
  • 1 1/3 cups plain* Greek yogurt
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Fruit Topping: Your choice!
Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
  2. Grease a 10-inch cake pan with baking spray or line with parchment paper and set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, combine oats, oat flour, cinnamon, vanilla and salt together. Add the honey and coconut oil and mix until dough is combined and sticks together. Use your hands or a fork as needed.
  4. Spread the mixture into prepared pan and press down firmly with a spatula or the bottom of a glass cup.
  5. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely (place in the refrigerator or freezer to cool faster).
  6. Meanwhile, in a medium mixing bowl, combine yogurt with honey and vanilla. Use an offset spatula to spread yogurt over cooled crust.
  7. Decorate with your favorite combination of fruit. Enjoy immediately or place in the fridge to cool and set.