Physical Activity & Nutrition

Physical Activity and Nutrition

The Idaho Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN) program works statewide to encourage healthy eating and increase active living opportunities. A focus on policy and environmental changes makes the healthy choice the easy choice for Idahoans. We work with community partners to maximize resources, provide education, and work to improve access to nutrition and physical activity tools in an effort to improve health in our communities.

Communities

IPAN works in collaboration with Vitruvian Planning to offer a training and analysis that focuses on walkability and transportation as it relates to health in our southwest Idaho communities. Work with selected communities allows us to find opportunities for improvement in the built environments, creating accessible and safe places to walk, run, ride, or roll. The results of this work will ensure that community members have safe, accessible, and healthy options to be active every day. 

Childcare

IPAN and partners are working with childcare providers to incorporate strategies that keep kids moving and eating nourishing foods in childcare facilities. IPAN recommendations follow national best-practices for nutrition, activity, and screen time for infants, toddlers, and young children as outlined by the Be Active Kids program. 

For more information, connect with the IPAN Coordinator

IPAN Coordinator: Daniel Adams
208-296-0847 
Daniel.Adams@swdh.id.gov

For Parents

Live Better Idaho helps connects families to services including child care.

https://www.livebetteridaho.org

Text4baby sends FREE text messages to help new moms through pregnancy up to baby’s first birthday.

https://partners.text4baby.org

For Child Care Providers

Healthy Kids, Healthy Future continues the work of Let’s Move! Child Care (LMCC), part of Former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative to prevent childhood obesity. Healthy Kids, Healthy Future encourages and supports child care and early education providers to make positive changes in their programs in order to work toward a healthier future for children.

Healthy Kids, Healthy Future offers childhood obesity prevention resources and tools to assist child care and preschool providers. Best practices are outlined in five healthy goal areas:

  1. Nurturing Healthy Eaters:  Offer children healthy food choices; options that will nurture their bodies and fuel brain development.
  2. Provide Healthy Beverages:  Water helps keep a child growing appropriately and all parts of the body working properly.
  3. Get Kids Moving:  Provide 1-2 hours of physical activity throughout the day. Children of all ages can benefit from regular physical activity – it improves children’s physical and mental health, learning of social skills, and cognitive development.
  4. Reduce Screen Time: No screen time for children less than 2 years. For children age 2 and older, strive to limit screen time to no more than 30 minutes per week during child care.
  5. Support Breast Feeding:  Child care settings are crucial supports for mothers who wish to continue to breastfeed while working outside the home.

 For more information and to sign up for the Healthy Kids, Healthy Future Child Care program, go to: www.healthykidshealthyfuture.org.

Additional Resources

National Resources

Local Resources