New Jersey Healthy Kids Initiative

11/08/2023

Does your child play sports? Do you know how to maximize their performance with nutrition? Needs can vary based on the individual, but there are some general tips everyone can follow when fueling for fall sports!

11/06/2023

With school back in full swing and winter around the corner, it's difficult to avoid an increase in screen time. Use these tips to encourage your kids to reduce their screen time and to be more active together as a family.

10/31/2023

With Halloween only a day away, check out this article from the American Heart Association with ways to make this year's holiday a bit healthier! https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/nutrition-basics/how-to-have-a-healthy-halloween

10/26/2023

October 26th is National Pumpkin Day. Pumpkins are high in fiber and a fall favorite. Check out this Pumpkin Pie Smoothie recipe!

10/25/2023

Creating an inclusive Halloween experience for everyone means considering those impacted by food allergies and other conditions, like diabetes. The Teal Pumpkin Project by has great tips to keep everyone safe this holiday 🎃
Check out https://www.foodallergy.org/our-initiatives/awareness-campaigns/living-teal/teal-pumpkin-project
Photo By Nick Fewings | Unsplash
or treat

10/23/2023

Craving some activity before the winter weather is here? Check out NJ’s top 10 best rated trails! https://www.njhiking.com/top-10-hikes-nj/

10/20/2023

Tomorrow is National Apple Day! Celebrate with this nutrient-packed Apple Pie Smoothie

10/18/2023

NJHKI’s Dr. Peggy Policastro and and IFNH Ambassadors Hannah Briggs, Alyssa Guidetti, and Rachel Ho recently presented NJHKI research at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ FNCE 2023 in Denver, CO.
https://njhki.rutgers.edu/2023/10/11/njhki-presented-franklinfit-research-at-fnce-2023/

09/18/2023

A phenomenal program we were involved with this summer was New Brunswick Fit, a free Strength & Conditioning summer camp for local youth. NB Police Captain Michael Bobadilla spearheads the initiative with funding from New Brunswick Tomorrow and New Brunswick Public Schools. NJHKI student workers educated campers on topics like macronutrients and the benefits of protein, carbohydrate, and fat for sport and physical fitness!

03/24/2023

LAST CHANCE! Today is the final day of ! We hope you will consider supporting the work we do. To donate, click the link below!

The overall objective of the NJHKI is to improve the health and wellness of children in New Jersey, the US, and abroad. The NJHKI provides leadership and organizational infrastructure that supports an integrated set of activities and research to improve children's health through lifestyle optimization at the intersection of healthy weight and metabolism, nutrition and culinary education, physical fitness, and the home environment. The NJHKI has evolved over time with community engagement, advances in basic science and medicine, and the evolution of digital technologies and educational practices. The NJHKI serves schools, local communities, and the Rutgers ecosystem by offering undergraduate research mentoring and experience, free culinary nutrition and fitness education, and community outreach opportunities. Finally, funding supports new research projects based on the community partnerships developed in the first three years of the NJHKI.

The New Jersey Healthy Kids Initiative (NJHKI) is a groundbreaking partnership between two preeminent institutes at Rutgers: the New Jersey Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health and the Child Health Institute of New Jersey. The mission of NJHKI is to improve child health by conductin...

08/10/2022

Did you see our July Opinion piece in the Star Ledger and on NJ.com? As summer winds down and NJ families gear up for school this September, it's important that we consider what healthy lifestyle habits and skills we want our children gain from school. Check out the full article at https://www.nj.com/opinion/2022/07/virtual-school-can-be-harmful-we-should-remember-this-as-we-prepare-for-fall-opinion.html

07/28/2022

What is processed food? Should you be eating processed food? Some processed food can actually be good for you and can save you time in the kitchen. One example of a processed food is pre-chopped salad mix. Don’t stray away from all processed foods! Linked below is more information on processed foods.
https://www.eatright.org/food/nutrition/nutrition-facts-and-food-labels/processed-foods-whats-ok-and-what-to-avoid