DATE: 9/25/07

CONTACT: Katherine Cason, (864) 656-0539; kcason@clemson.edu

WRITER: Diane Palmer (864) 656-4741; spalmer@clemson.edu

Clemson professor develops program to fight obesity in children

CLEMSON – With the obesity epidemic in children increasing at an alarming rate in South Carolina, one Clemson University professor is working to solve the problem.

The program, entitled “Lucy’s Tasty Treasures” was developed by Katherine Cason, Clemson University professor and state program leader for Food Safety and Nutrition, to help combat the obesity epidemic in children.

The program that takes a “farm to table” approach to promote healthy eating and physical activity for children is being offered to elementary schools this year through video streaming and DVDs.

Cason’s daughter, Melissa plays the character “Lucy,” who is on a summer assignment, a treasure hunt to locate and learn about healthy foods, such as fruits and vegetables, dairy and whole grains. Other actors are Emory Childress, who plays “Austin” and Georgia Childress who plays “Charlotte.”

The DVD is already being used by Anderson District 4 as part of their curriculum for first graders. This curriculum is also being used in 30% of South Carolina Schools. So far, Cason has received approximately 100 orders from teachers in seven different states. Fourteen schools that are part of the Zest Quest® Program, a non-profit children’s health initiative, will use the DVDs as well as Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program educators in more than 260 schools. Lucy’s Tasty Treasures also includes family newsletters and student activity books and photo-novellas.

A website was launched in July to give more information, recipes, games, a blog, and for ordering the DVDs. The address is: http://www.clemson.edu/lucystastytreasures/.

For more information, contact Cason at (864) 656-0539; kcason@clemson.edu.

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