When its television screens go blank on Saturday, the Nickelodeon cable network is advising its viewers not to fiddle with the buttons -- but to go outside and play.

The three hours of dead air the children's network will begin broadcasting at noon (EDT/PDT) is part of its fourth annual world wide day of play, an encouragement to kids to get outside and work on getting in shape.

Later that day, any kids who have gotten the exercise bug might tune into the network's "Let's Just Play Go Healthy Challenge" (6 p.m. EDT/PDT) and compare what they did with other kids whose exercise regimens have been spotlighted on the show.

I think it's great that Nickelodeon is taking part in such an important cause. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now estimate that approximately 19 percent of children (ages 6-11) and 17 percent of adolescents (ages 12-19) are considered overweight. And then, there's the future: Researchers predict that nearly half the children in North America will be overweight by 2010. An alarming 80 percent of these children will likely be overweight as adults, placing them at a higher risk of developing health problems like high cholesterol, hypertension and diabetes.

To learn more about combating child obesity CLICK HERE!

SOURCE: CNN

Last night's biggest loser trivia question revealed that 51% of Americans say they eat fast food as a family meal at least once a week. I was completely shocked by that number. How can anyone consider fast food to be a family meal ? With exception of subway on occasion I never eat fast food. Does it surprise you that more than half of Americans eat fast food so frequently?

If you must eat fast food...

Stay away from fried or crispy chicken, instead choose grilled.

Don't eat the burgers, the meat is VERY POOR QUALITY!

Order a salad but don't be fooled by the salad dressing. Most fast food salad dressing is very high in fat, sugar and calories. Maybe you can keep a bottle of low cal balsamic vinaigrette stashed in your glove box.

Never order soda, always choose bottled water!

Her recipes including donuts made with pumpkin and sweet potato and chocolate chip cookies made with chic peas sound mouth watering. You don’t have to be a mother to enjoy the creatively healthy recipes featured in this book.  Deceptively Delicious sells HERE for $17

A recent survey has shown that those living in low earning households do not have a poorer diet than those more well off.

The survey conducted by the Food Standards Agency found that poor eating choices were more widespread than first thought affecting many wealthy families.

Over a 15 month period 3,728 adults and children took part in the study, the Low Income Diet and Nutrition Survey. CLICK HERE to read more...

Fit Mom Jennifer Garner brings healthy snacks for her daughter Violet. It's always good to encourage your children to choose healthy snacks like fruit! Good or bad eating habits are developed when children are young and become harder to change as time goes on.

Here are some healthy snacks that your kids will enjoy:

• Keep water bottles in the house instead of soda.
• Granola bars
• Fruit snacks
• Wheat crackers
• Trail mix
• Popcorn instead of chips
• Carrot sticks
• Fresh Fruit like strawberries, grapes, Mellon, apples etc...
• Yogurt, Jello, Pudding snacks
• Cheerios
• Real Fruit Freeze Pops