Fit For A Kid! ? SpreadLuv

In an economy that is struggling to rebound, it?s no surprise that childhood obesity is at an all-time high. Some argue that parents simply don?t have the time or resources to provide a well-balanced diet?to their children.

This has inspired people like First Lady Michelle Obama to get in the fight and tackle the issues?surrounding childhood obesity. The First Lady and her ?Let?s Move???innitaitive?has been very successful at?providing?exercise programs and nutritional assistance to? communities in need.

First Lady Michelle Obama

One entrepreneur looking to join First Lady in the fight against?childhood obesity?is Naima Woodson. Naima is the founder of Fit For a Kid, a mobile fitness company that provides services to preschools, private schools, community centers, and families.

Naima Woodson - Founder of Fit For a Kid

I got the opportunity to interview Naima to find out the inspiration behind Fit For a Kid. You can access our interview by clicking on the subtitle above or scrolling below.

What inspired you to start?Fit For?a Kid?

Naima:?Health and fitness is my passion! Although I?ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, I knew that any business that had me spending hours and energy on would have to be something that I?m intensely passionate about.? I?ve always held an interest for health and fitness, but it wasn?t until a few years ago that I realized this is what I was destined to do.

Naima is Currently A Member of The 100 Urban Entrepreneurs

With two young children of my own, I understand the obstacles that many parents face when it comes to teaching their children the importance of making healthy choices and staying physically fit. With that notion, my business, Fit for a Kid was born.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced getting?Fit For?a Kid started and how did you manage to overcome those challenges?

Naima:?One of the biggest challenges I faced getting Fit For a Kid started was marketing, with limited financial resources.? As a result of that, I had to?seek creative, low-cost ways to market my services.

In the beginning stages, providing some volunteer services provided great exposure for my business, and resulted in some long-term clients.

Another challenge I faced was learning how to schedule and manage my time effectively. Life as a business owner, and mom, can be extremely hectic. I learned quickly that the only way to be productive and get things done was to strategically and efficiently manage my time.??Organization, delegation, and sticking to a schedule is key.

How do you use fear to work for you rather than against you?

Naima:?Fear is a very real and powerful emotion, but you can either use it to your advantage, or allow it to paralyze you.??I use my fear in a positive way by allowing it to drive and motivate me to succeed in business.

Instead of worrying about how situations may turn out, I evaluate the possibilities, and allow that to drive how I decide to act on it.??I recognize the fear, explore where it?s coming from, and outline what needs to happen for me to overcome it.

Is there a certain book or movie that inspires your work?

Naima:?All sacred and spiritual texts inspire me and my work.? They provide spiritual value, enlightenment, and perspective on everyday life.

If you could go back and do one thing over, as it pertains to starting your business, what would it be?

Naima:?Nothing!? Every experience I?ve had as an entrepreneur, I?ve learned from.

What are some of the dangers surrounding childhood obesity and how is FIT FOR A KID helping to combat the issues??

Naima:?According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the majority of children between ages 4 and 18 engage in no organized physical activity outside school, and roughly one-fourth of those children engage in no free-time physical activity at all.? Meanwhile, a recent report from the Trust for America?s Health found that 38 states have obesity rates (encompassing both children and adults) above 25 percent.

Just two decades ago, not a single state crossed that threshold.? Childhood obesity has become a national epidemic, with type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and sedentary lifestyles on the rise upon our youth.

Fit for a Kid partners with preschools, private schools, and community recreation centers to offer physical-fitness and nutrition-education programs for children ages 2 through 11.

Our programs focus on the development of fundamental gross motor skills through activities such as aerobics, yoga, dance, martial arts and sports.? We also provide private, in-home nutrition consultation and fitness training for children ages 4 through 18, encompassing lessons in anatomy, the importance of goal setting and overall health and life skills.

What are some popular foods a parent should remove from their child?s diet and what could they use as a healthy substitute??

Naima: Four things ?(1.)? Excess amounts of?sugar?in the diet can lead to weight gain and obesity.??Foods that contain empty calories, and are high in sugar (such as doughnuts, candy bars, chips, and foods with low nutritional value) should be avoided.?Instead, keep your cabinets and fridge stocked with healthy snack choices, such as cut-up fresh fruits and veggies, nuts, yogurt, and whole grain foods.

(2.) ?The consumption of?sweetened drinks, such as soda, juice, Kool-Aid and sports drinks should be monitored.?These drinks (even 100 percent fruit juice) contain a lot of calories with little or no nutritional benefit.

Many people think of juice as an essential part of a child?s diet, however, it?s not as healthy as people think.??Water and milk are the best choices.??Not only is water calorie-free, but drinking it teaches kids to accept a low-flavor, no-sugar beverage as a thirst-quencher.

(3.) ?Foods that are?highly processed?have little nutritive value, and should be avoided.??Most of the nutrients in processed foods are lost through the processing procedure.??Some foods are fortified (have nutrients added back to them) to compensate for what was lost.??This is the case for many cereals marketed towards children.??Instead, choose high quality, unprocessed natural foods.

(4.) ?For many families,?fast food?can provide a cheap, convenient, and filling option.??But unfortunately, as we all know, it?s not a healthy option.??Eating fast food on a regular basis can lead to a host of different health problems.??You can, however, still enjoy the convenience of fast food restaurants, if you?re mindful of making healthier choices at fast food establishments.

Prepare ahead by checking the nutritional content of meal choices at your favorite fast food spots.??You can also choose to patronize restaurants that focus of natural, healthier foods. Keep in mind that eating habits are not instinctive; they are learned behaviors.? What your children learn to eat at home as children can stick with them well into adulthood.

Where do you see Fit For?a Kid in five years?

Naima:?In five years, I see Fit For a Kid as a primary source for physical education in private schools.? Our plans for expansion also include franchising, and physical locations, where children of all ages can participate in fitness, health and nutrition classes, recreation and workshops.

How does Fit For?a Kid Spread Luv?

Naima:?Fit For a Kid Spread?s Luv by staying committed to our mission.? We are creating a generation of healthy children!

Feel free to contact us to learn more about our?nutritional?programs and classes for your children! Visit us at:?www.fitforakidla.com?for more information. Also, please be sure to follow us on Twitter and??Like??us on?Facebook?to?receive?great nutritional?tips for your family. Thanks for your support!!

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Source: http://spreadluv.com/2012/02/02/fit-for-a-kid/

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