Guest post by Shari Lopatin

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona

(An independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association)

Does your child have an awesome healthy recipe that’ll make your tummy tumble with delight? Then keep reading, because your kid could win a brand new bike!

Every year, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona sponsors a recipe contest as part of its Walk On! Challenge to fight childhood obesity. The contest is open to all Arizona children between the ages of 9 and 12 years old.

The call for recipes just opened Jan. 1 this year. [submit your child’s recipe now]

The submission portion of the contest is only open for a few weeks, and ends on Jan. 22.

This year, we’re looking for recipes for hot or cold side dishes. They must be original and include at least one fruit or vegetable. So if you have a recipe to send in, now is the time to do it!

After submissions close, five finalists will be chosen to present their recipes to a panel of judges at a community event and film a short video. Then, the public will be able to vote for their favorite recipe online.

Got a yummy and healthy recipe you think will blow away the competition? Submit your child’s recipe here: www.walkonaz.com.

Fighting Childhood Obesity

Did you know nearly one in three children in the U.S. are overweight or obese, according to Let’s Move!, a national program to fight childhood obesity led by First Lady Michelle Obama?

It’s true. Let’s Move! also reports that obese children have:

• Risk factors for heart disease

• High cholesterol levels

• High blood pressure

• Abnormal sugar tolerance

• Self-esteem issues

So how can you keep your kids healthy? Rather than a family movie night, try an afternoon outing to the park and play some Frisbee. Or take a family walk after dinner. By working more activity into your kids’ daily lives, you’re helping the fight against childhood obesity.

Also cutting back on sugary drinks is helpful. Let’s Move! suggests focusing on a healthy eating goal each week. Maybe that means working more veggies into your meals, or eating fruit for dessert one night.

Keep up with the Recipe Contest via Social Media

Whether or not your child submits a healthy recipe to the Walk On! Challenge, you can stay up-to-date on the recipe contest results (including when voting starts) by following Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona on Facebook and Twitter.

Bon appètit!