BalanceME Weight Loss Camp Brings Awareness to National Food Month, Offers Health Advice For Kids In Classroom Setting

Balance Me, a weight loss camp which operates in Cape Cod, California and Texas, is helping to bring awareness to National Food Month.

The camp offers valuable health lessons to teens and children, San Francisco Gate reported.

"At our weight loss camps for teens and kids, we help campers learn how their favorite foods can be prepared in healthier ways," CEO John Gordon said. "Plus we expand their taste palette to include new foods they love that are healthier for their bodies."

At the camp, children are taught that healthy foods can also be diet foods, by creating a nutrition and culinary plan.

"While it's great to try new things, it's also good to know that many of our favorites foods can be made in a healthy way," Gordon said. "That's what campers at our weight loss camps for teens and kids learn."

In classroom settings the campers are taught "portion sizes, taste profile and healthy substitutions. Plus, campers gain culinary skills to understand what goes into their food and how to prepare simple meals at home," the SF Gate reported.

As part of the program, BalanceME brings in chefs and nutritionists to help design an experience that teaches adolescents about healthy nutrition and how to prepare better meals by substituting certain ingredients.

The specialized curriculum has produced tremendous results. BalanceMe had the highest reported weight loss out of any other weight loss camp in 2012. On average, campers lost around four pounds, according to the SF Gate reported.

The camp said many children face shame and embarrassment from their peers, which often makes it difficult for them to change due to overwhelming stress.

BalanceMe, takes the opposite approach and teaches children about how food affects their mood, energy levels and performance in school and sports. In other words, they teach children that eating food is good, as long as you know how much.

To honor National Food Month, BalanceMe is also offering up some of their favorite recipes.

Real Time Analytics