June 2011 Prepared Foods-- Statistics from Shape Up America! indicate more than 12 million children in the U.S. can be classified as obese, with 23 million considered overweight. To help combat this, Shape Up America! and the National Turkey Federation (NTF) have joined together to “arm parents with the facts and tools to make simple changes--or “upgrades”--in favorite meals and physical activity levels, so everyone can reap the benefits of taking in less calories.”
Parents can “improve their children’s weight status” with an online tool, the Meal Upgrade Calculator. The interactive website offers guidance on nutritionally improving favorite breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, while also offering the chance for parents to assess the weight status of their children and “reduce the calories and fat consumed in meals served at school and in restaurants.”