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Organize a Healthy Fundraising Policy

Tuesday, August 25th, 2009

Organizing a healthy fundraiser is not an overnight business. In fact you need to do meticulous planning and devote substantial time and energy, much more than you do in a organizing a regular fundraiser. The demand for healthy fundraising solutions has increased with obesity reaching endemic proportions amongst kids in the United States of America. It is a cause of concern amongst both parents and teachers and therefore has prompted them to abide by the nutritional regulations imposed by the states. The PTA has an important role to play in this regard as they are the driving force behind elementary school fundraisers. The school fundraisers are a great platform to promote the need for a healthy living as consumption of junk food, high on fats, saturated fats and sugar content, increase the chances of obesity and Type 2 Diabetes in kids and young adults. Healthy fundraising alternatives would promote the need for healthy eating and nutrition amongst kids.

Schools play an important role in the development of children. Inculcating the right food habits also forms a part of their all round growth. Therefore the adoption of a health policy that serves as a guideline for organizing fundraisers, school functions, a la carte lines, intramural events, class snacks, school vending machines and extracurricular events is necessary. A school adopted healthy fundraising policy would thus be an official statement of the health policies that the school s going to follow while organizing the event.

A healthy fundraising policy needs to be developed after conducting extensive research of the health laws of the state and child nutrition. There has to be an effort in spreading the word and getting support for the same. This can be done with some help from the Parents Teachers Association, the School Health Advisory Council and the Public Health Partners. A rough draft needs to be prepared that has to be checked repeatedly for any mistakes. After the approval of the school board and the PTA comes the final step of adopting the policy.

With a proper healthy fundraising policy in place, it would become relatively easier to work on fundraisers in the future. People from the school who are responsible for the formulation of the healthy fundraising policy should also keep a tab on sponsorship policy, advertising policy, guidelines for the sale of food and beverage in schools and the recycling policy so that none of the norms are conflicting with each other.

The healthy fundraising policy will give the vendors an idea about the kind of food that you want for the fundraiser. Chips, fries, chocolates and pastries are a strict no-no. You can promote the event as one that follows all nutritional guidelines and there will be no dearth of active participation. With healthy alternatives to fried foods, the fundraiser will be a success with parents, teachers and most importantly the kids.

Tags: California SB 12, Healthy Fundraising Policy, healthy snacks, PTA, School health Advisory Council, vending machines
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Nutritional Regulations Create School Fundraising Challenge

Tuesday, August 25th, 2009

Obesity is the major health concern all across the United States of America as 65% of the adult American population is found to be overweight. Available statistics indicate that almost 16% of the children in the country are overweight and the numbers are increasing with each passing day. Obesity is also the root cause for other health related issues like hypertension, cardiac problems, cancer, diabetes and orthopedic problems and 25% of children within the age group of five to ten have been found to have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and Type 2 Diabetes. Lack of physical activity further worsens the condition.

The federal government has understood the role of the schools in countering the problem of child obesity and the legislation of Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 was a step in that direction. The rising health costs also do not help much.

Given the present state of affairs, a number of nutritional regulations have been imposed to establish a healthy nutrition environment at the schools. This holds true especially for fundraising events. Implementation of laws like SB 12 has placed a ban on chocolate fundraisers that have an adverse effect on the health of children and young adults. The thrust is now on introducing healthy snack ideas that may prove to be healthy alternatives to the sweets and junk food that kids usually gorge on.

The food items that come under the purview of the nutritional guidelines include snacks, snack carts, desserts, school fundraisers, school vending machines, school stores and ala carte lines. As per the existing health norms, no food item can have 35% of calories from total fat, 35% sugar by weight and 10% calories from saturated fat. The healthy alternatives for children should contain zero trans fat.

In such a scenario, it is a challenge for fundraiser organizers, especially members of the PTA, who are into conceptualizing and working on an elementary school fundraising event. They have to keep in mind that children are far less likely to eat bland low calorie food, let alone enjoy it. Instead they should think of healthy fundraising solutions that do not compromise on the taste, are low on calories thereby complying with the nutritional guidelines and wellness policies.

Fundraising in a healthy manner will help you to raise a substantial amount of money from the event. There is nothing much you need to do except for ensuring the fact that the snacks at the fundraiser are healthy so that the kids can have a good time and their parents do not have to bother about what their child is eating. The kids will not mind donating from their pocket money and that too quite generously if what they get in return is worth it. Parents on their parts will not think twice before sending their child for a healthy fundraising event.

Tags: California SB 12, Nutritional Regulations, Obesity, PTA, School fundrasing, Type 2 Diabetes
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Elementary School Fundraising Made Easy

Monday, August 17th, 2009

You must have planned several high school fundraisers, but while planning elementary school fundraisers, you need to think out of the box. Though the basics of the event remain the same, a major difference is the fact that these are for small children. The crowds at the fundraiser, the participants, are all toddlers and therefore you need to think of innovative ideas to encourage their interest and involvement in the event.

Working with children can be great fun but you also need to have a lot of patience while dealing with them. You need to present your ideas in a way that they appeal to the young volunteers so that they can convince their peers to participate as well. As one who has been assigned the task of organizing the elementary school fundraising event, you need to make the blue print yourself.

Lay down the instructions clearly so that there is no confusion amongst your team of young volunteers. Explain their tasks in a playful manner but make them feel that you are banking on their support to make it a successful event. This will make them realize their responsibility.

Deciding on the venue, time and date of the fundraiser undoubtedly top your priority list. But this time around you need to pay attention to the way you are going to decorate the venue. Bright banners, balloons and other colorful props will help attract the attention of the young students and they will be gradually interested to participate as well.

As far as money matters are concerned these are better not left to the kids. You can deal with the sellers and confirm their share from the sales. Once the event is over, you can look into the distribution of the funds.

Since it is meant for children, then the nature of the fundraiser should be as simple as its target audience. Direct sellers come across as the best option. Selling something at a nominal price will help to collect a significant amount. Kids, on their part, can utilize their pocket money for a good cause. This habit, if inculcated in them from their childhood, would eventually make them responsible citizens in the future.

Now what should be the products up for sale? Chocolate fundraising has been banned in most schools of the country by laws such as SB 12. Fried foods like wafers, burgers and pizzas are not a healthy option either. All these are high on fats, saturated fats and sugar and can lead to Type 2 Diabetes and obesity. You need to look for healthy fundraising solutions. Healthy snacks can serve your purpose as they are tasty and at the same time low on calories. Teachers and parents can breathe a sigh of relief, as their children will not be gorging on junk food any more.

Tags: California SB 12, School Fundraising
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What To Do About Skyrocketing Obesity Healthcare Costs

Monday, August 17th, 2009

A large part of the GDP of the United States of America is spent on healthcare facilities. Healthcare expenditure amounts to 15.3% of the total GDP. The coming decade is predicted to be no different and the costs can rise up to 19.5%. More than deadly diseases, it is physical conditions like obesity that has increased the amount of money that an average American spends on health related problems. Of the total population of the United States, almost 25% are obese and suffer from ailments that result out of it.

Health statistics reveal that cases of obesity witnessed a steep rise of 37% from 1998-2006 that consequently raised the amount that was spent on it to a whopping $40 billion per year. The amount spent on treatment of obesity related diseases was 42% more than what was spent on the healthcare of standard weight individuals. This high rate of expenditure is on health is surely a cause of concern especially in current scenario of economic downturn.

These were not spent on fat removal surgeries like bariatric surgery but on diseases that occurred as a result of obesity. People who are overweight are likely to be diagnosed with diabetes and heart diseases. The increasing cases of obesity are thus responsible for the upward swing in healthcare costs.

You do not want your child to be troubled by obesity and other associated diseases like Type 2 Diabetes from such an early age. Therefore, it is up to the parents and the teachers to share the responsibility of developing a diet plan for the child that would incorporate all the essential nutrients and at the same time appeal to his or her taste buds. Along with the right kind of food, it is also necessary to encourage them for engaging in a lot of physical activity instead of remaining glued to the computer or the television screen.

The effort towards countering this rising expenditure should come from all quarters. To begin with, it is the duty of every parent, teacher and coach to inculcate healthy eating habits in kids. Teachers and coaches can set an example by organizing healthy fundraisers that impose restrictions on the intake of food items rich in fats, saturated fats and sugar. Chocolate fundraisers are no longer organized in most schools across the nation and thus pass on the message of opting for healthy solutions in fundraising effectively.

Now the question may arise as to what are the substitutes for fried foods and snacks which children find hard to resist. The solution to this is healthy alternatives or snacks that contain less fats and sugar thereby minimizing the chances of children becoming prone to obesity. It is difficult to restrain children from snacking, especially at the time of a school fundraiser, but when you arrange for healthy snacking options, you no longer need to restrict kids from having them. You cannot compromise with the health of your family and therefore it is better to be careful rather than repent later.

Tags: Healthcare Costs, Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes
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Guide to a Successful Fundraiser

Monday, August 17th, 2009

Days of hectic activity, prolonged hours at work, frequent meetings; you may think that these descriptions come straight out of the diary of a professional. But this can well be the account of a person who has just been assigned the task of organizing a fundraiser. There are too many things to be done within too less a time and therefore it may become chaotic. Not sure about whom to ask for a guide to a successful fundraiser? Then read on.

You may be organizing a youth sports fundraiser, a school fundraiser or a high school fundraiser but the basic rules remain the same for each one of them. The planning for the fundraiser holds the key and therefore you need to ensure that you have got the best planners at work. Lay down a detailed description of the kind of fundraiser that you wish to organize, its venue, schedule, participants and a rough estimate of the amount that you wish to raise. The participants and the sellers need to be briefed well about the objective of the fundraiser and the monetary share of the sellers.

After the basics are done, it is time to work on the framework. Get as many volunteers and sellers as you can to work on the fundraiser. Even if you are doing the larger share of the work connected with the fundraiser, it is not humanly possible to keep a tab on everything that is going on behind the scenes. Build up a team of efficient volunteers and you can bank on them to take responsibility for a particular aspect of the fundraiser.

Since the purpose of a fundraiser is to raise funds, you must make sure that the maximum funds are generated through the event. For that you need to make it known to one and all in the neighborhood. Talk to friends, put up banners, publish details on your website and hope for some word of mouth publicity.

A direct seller fundraiser works best when you attempt to gather large amount of money for a cause. If it is a school fundraiser, then it is difficult to make children donate generously. As kids they expect that they will get something in return as well. Direct seller fundraisers can have healthy snacks as a product. If priced reasonably, they can help garner a good amount.

When parents come to know that a healthy fundraising event has been organized in the school, they won’t stop their kids from participating. In fact, most of them are worried about the food items at a fundraiser as these mainly include junk food and chocolates. With the imposition of health laws that ban chocolate fundraising in several schools, a healthy fundraising alternative is the need of the hour. None of the parents want their kids to experience problems like Type 2 Diabetes and obesity so early in life.

So if you utilize organizational skills and delegate responsibility, then you can hope for a good turnout at the event, thereby making it a grand success.

Tags: Successful Fundraiser; healthy fundraising; healthy snacks
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Planning a High School Fundraiser

Thursday, August 13th, 2009

So you have been asked to plan a high school fundraiser and you are completely clueless as to how to go about it. When you are assigned the responsibility of planning a fundraiser, the first thing that you need to do is prioritize. Since it is a big event it is not possible for an individual to take care of all the departments. Therefore your first task would be to organize a team of volunteers and make them in charge of each department. You need to set out a detailed description of your fundraiser objectives and discuss it with your team. There should be a backup plan in case something doesn’t work. You need to ensure that the fundraiser goes on without a hitch. As a fundraiser organizer you need to keep these things in mind, irrespective of the type of fundraiser.
A fundraiser is aimed towards raising money for a particular cause. Therefore you need to work on the kind of fundraiser that you want to organize so that you can raise as much funds as you can. There is no dearth of ideas and you can go for donation fundraisers, car wash fundraisers, brochure or pre-sell fundraisers or direct sellers. Do not go for a chocolate fundraiser as it has been banned by many states in the country owing to its damaging effects on the health of kids. It is advisable to go for direct sellers as they serve the purpose well. The food items sold are priced reasonably and therefore ensure maximum sales thereby contributing generously to the funds collected. Since you are in charge of the event you need to take responsibility for the collection of funds and later ensure that a part of it goes to the seller and the rest to the designated fund.
The next thing that you need to figure out is the kind of fundraiser that you wish to organize. No matter whether you are a band leader or a football coach of the high school, the plan of action remains more or less the same. As the man or lady in charge, you need to first decide on the dates for your fundraiser. It can be a one day event or a week long program depending upon your resources.
Since the objective of the fundraiser is clear, there should be a target amount that needs to be generated. The determination of a target fundraising amount is necessary as it would help you in the proper allocation of your resources. It gives you an idea regarding the number of students that you wish to have in the fundraiser and the number of sellers who can become a part of the event. You can then give the sellers an idea of the share of money that you expect out of their sales.
You can have products that are healthy fundraising alternatives. These healthy fundraising solutions are targeted especially towards school children as they can contribute to the cause in without causing damage to their health. You can order these healthy snack alternatives and store them in an appropriate place. Kids love to snack and what better way to make them enjoy a fundraiser than to organize a healthy fundraising event.

Tags: Alec Moreland promotes wellness, nutrition and healthy snacks in fundraising to reduce obesity and Type 2 Diabetes in schools. "America's #1 Healthy Snack Fundraiser" is The Chocolate Alternative. Healthy_Fundraising_Solutions Con
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Fundraising: Why Healthy Direct Sellers

Thursday, August 13th, 2009

Schools are always on the lookout for fundraising ideas. Fundraising events are targeted towards drawing more and more children, often at the cost of their health. This is the reason why chocolate fundraisers have been banned in many parts of the United States since the introduction of the California SB 12 and similar health laws. The legislation has been introduced in view of the fact that children who were born after the year 2000 are more likely to be diagnosed with diseases like Type 2 Diabetes.

In fact, obesity amongst kids is a rising health concern in the United States of America. It is possible to keep a check on both these health concerns if a proper diet plan for kids is put into place. Not only would it meet their nutritional requirements but would also be as tasty as fast foods and high calorie snacks that kids love to have. These are low on sugar, fats and saturated fats and thereby ensure a low calorie count.

There are different kinds of fundraisers. These include car wash fundraisers, brochure or pre-sell fundraisers, donation fundraisers and direct sellers. As the name suggests, in brochure or pre-sell fundraisers, brochures or pamphlets are distributed to promote a particular product. Prospective buyers order for the goods after seeing the brochures. After the products arrive they are distributed amongst the customers and the payments accepted by the sellers. The amount is then sent to the team leader who in turn keeps a part for the team and sends the rest to the company. This kind of a fundraiser requires a lot of effort on the part of the organizers.

Then one has the option of organizing a car wash fundraiser. It is an elaborate affair and will take up a weekend as one needs to get some things in place. You may find it difficult to draw people to this fundraiser. It is equally difficult to get somebody contribute to a donation fundraiser.

The one fundraiser that can reap in maximum benefits for the organizers is a healthy Direct Seller Fundraiser. It serves the twin purposes of offering healthy snacks for the kids as well as providing them at a minimum price so that it can yield maximum profits. Fundraisers can have healthy snacking options available at an affordable price so that the kids can snack as much as they can, thereby contributing to the objective of the fundraiser. Parents can also breathe a sigh of relief as they do not have to worry about what the child is eating. It works well in comparison to donation fundraisers where there is hardly any motivation for a kid to contribute. In a healthy direct seller’s fundraiser, the kid can contribute and at the same time get something tangible in return. Both the parties end up getting something.

Healthy direct sellers not only encourage the idea of opting for healthy fundraising solutions but also enlighten the kids about the basics of an entrepreneurial venture. It helps to inculcate healthy eating habits and at the same time it is educative.

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Find Snack Alternatives to Chocolate

Thursday, August 13th, 2009

Chocolate is the magic word for kids. You name it and you can make them do their lessons, complete all their assignments; clean their rooms and what not. Why just kids, even young adults and grown ups share the same kind of passion for chocolates. Chocolates are not called sinful just like that. You may feel tempted to have more and more of it but you cannot help yourself from feeling guilty of the calorie count. The sugar and fat content in chocolates is extremely high and therefore it is not a good idea to have them if you are looking forward to shed some weight.

Since kids are not much aware of the effects of chocolate on their health, it is necessary for their parents and teachers to educate them in this regard. Obviously you cannot stop a child from having chocolates but there needs to be a limit to it. Obesity is now common in kids. The main reason behind this is the consumption of fried foods, chocolates and candies and a lack of exercise. Kids these days are becoming more and more prone to a sedentary lifestyle where computer games have replaced any kind of physical activity.

The high sugar content in chocolates has an adverse effect on the sugar level in the body. This may lead to the onset of Type 2 Diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes coupled with obesity is not something that you want for your child. Therefore it is necessary to raise awareness about healthy fundraising solutions.

The health statistics in the United States of America project a dismal picture as far as kids are concerned. As many as 30% of the children in the country, who were born after 2000, have a high risk of developing diabetes. There has been a conscious effort from the state health departments and schools to encourage healthy fundraisers. This is apparent from the implementation of laws like California SB 12 and similar health laws in other states. As a result chocolate fundraising was banned by numerous schools in the past.

The food served in these events would incorporate healthy fundraising alternatives, an assortment of delectable snacks that would taste equally delicious but go easy on the calorie count. They are no less tasty and the kids would definitely love them.

Healthy snack alternatives have 35% less fat, 25% less sugar and 10% less saturated fats. As a result parents need not bother about what their child is eating in fundraisers that go for healthy snacking options. In fact, the children consume 250 calories less than what they would have done otherwise. They comply with the nutritional guidelines set by the health departments of various states.

Healthy snacks are a great alternative to chocolates and they go a long way in reducing the risk of obesity and Type 2 Diabetes in kids. When you opt for these healthy snacks, you are sure to get a satisfactory blend of taste and health.

Healthy Snacks Can Lower Type 2 Diabetes

Thursday, August 13th, 2009

Type 2 Diabetes has adverse effect on the sugar levels of our body. The sugar levels need to be kept within a certain range and a condition where it is well above the permissible limit or below it can become a cause of worry. Eating healthy snacks can minimize the risk of Type 2 diabetes.

In this form of diabetes, the insulin generated in the body is either insufficient or is rejected by the cells. Insulin helps in utilizing the glucose for producing energy. Insulin helps to carry the glucose to the cells. If it does not reach the cells, then the body cannot make use of it for generating energy. In case, the cells cannot utilize the glucose, it remains in the blood. An excessive amount of glucose in the blood can cause diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes occurs as a result of insulin resistance and obesity.

The conditions, which lead to the occurrence of Type 2 Diabetes, include snacking, excessive eating, consumption of high calorie drinks, and foods high on carbohydrate content. All these shoot up the sugar levels in the body. Since the sugar cannot reach the tissues, its levels rise in the blood. Obese people are more prone to insulin resistance as the fat in the body acts as a barrier to the optimum utilization of the insulin. In the United States of America almost one-third of the total population are obese and it is expected that 30% of the children who are born after 2000 are prone to get diabetes.

When it comes to kids it is necessary to inculcate in them correct food habits. They are not aware of what is good and nutritional food for them. The onus here lies with the schools and the parents of the kids. In the past schools organized fundraising events and the selling of chocolate bars was an integral part of them. With the introduction of California SB 12 and other similar laws in other US states, chocolate fundraising was banned.

Searching for healthy fundraising solutions can solve this problem. Schools can now order healthy fundraising snacks that are low on calories. To be healthy, they would comprise less that 35% fat, 10% less saturated fats, 25% less sugar. All in all, your child can have all these sumptuous snacks and even then consume less that 250 calories. If the snacks are healthy, there will be no harmful trans-fats as these need to be completely avoided by obese people.

Healthy fundraising does not mean that the food served is bland. They are equally tasty as fries, burgers and pizzas and the kids are definitely going to love them. It is important to make decisions to look for healthy fundraising alternatives, and contribute to better health in America.

Healthy Fundraising Solutions to counter obesity

Thursday, August 13th, 2009

With an increasing number of children showing signs of obesity, there has been an attempt to organize healthy fundraising events where your child can have all kinds of snacks and you can stop worrying about your child eating junk food. Do not restrict your child from snacking but make sure that he has the right kind of food, snacks which are tasty but at the same time low on fats, sugar and saturated fats. If you look for Healthy Fundraising Solutions and focus on healthy snacking, your success will be greater for events like fundraising, sports competitions concessions and cultural extravaganzas.

The burgers, the pizzas and the fries are all extremely popular amongst the youth but one cannot ignore their adverse effect on health. Obesity is on the rise and it can be countered with a healthy focus. However, being healthy does not essentially mean a compromise with their taste and variety. There is wide range of delicious snacks to choose from.

You may be wondering why search for healthy fundraising solutions when there are other options available. This is because truly healthy snacks will have less than 35% sugar, less than 10% saturated fats, less than 35% fat, and less than 250 calories. Snacks like these will reduce obesity and Type 2 Diabetes.

These type of healthy snacks are made following the nutritional guidelines set by the different states of the United States of America and therefore ideal for school going kids and teenagers. Delectable nutrition regulation compliant snacks would include Chili Picante Corn Nuts, Rice Krispies Treats, Trix Cereal Bars, General Mills Chex Mix, Baked Flamin Hot Cheetos, Ranch Corn Nuts and many more.

It is difficult for a kid or a teenager to recognize the damage that is been done by consuming candy and chocolate. Moreover it is also difficult for them to resist the temptation of having a burger and fries. Therefore it is necessary that teachers and parents have a strict eye on what their children are eating. Obesity in children is surely a cause of concern in parents and healthy fundraising can be used as an effective counter measure.

States and school districts throughout the country have placed bans on the sale of chocolates, candies and other unhealthy foods on campus. That is because they want to stop the kids from binging on these. Apart from obesity, Type 2 Diabetes can also arise as a result of eating food items that are high in sugar. A lot of attention is paid to the kind of food served in these fundraisers. There are a lot of healthy alternatives to choose from. You just need to search for healthy fundraising options and use them.

Tags: Alec Moreland promotes wellness, nutrition and healthy snacks to reduce obesity and Type 2 Diabetes in schools. "America's #1 Healthy Snack Fundraiser" is The Chocolate Alternative. http://www.healthyfundraisingsolutions.com/ Contact
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