By: Kimberly Reed, Executive Director, IFIC Foundation   Date: 4/28/11

Today, the International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation, along with thousands of other employers across our nation, celebrate and support our children by participating in the annual "Take Your Child to Work Day." 

By bringing your son or daughter (or grandchild or other young person who you mentor) to your place of work, you expand their perspective on life.  They will finally have an understanding of "what mom or dad does every day.". More importantly, you will give them context on how their future professional career will connect to what they are doing in school today.   We also hope "Take Your Child to School Day" will encourage young people to think about careers in communication, education, nutrition, food safety, or science.

One of our IFIC Foundation colleagues, Stephanie Ferguson, brought in her daughter Kanisha to work today.  Kanisha is an outstanding junior at Oxon Hill High School.   Because the IFIC Foundation focuses on communication, we want to give Kanisha her first opportunity to write a blog for us (see below).

Focus on Healthy Living

Today also is the big launch of the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation’s “Together Counts” initiative.  "Together Counts" is a nationwide program focused on inspiring active and healthy living.  The idea is to get families and community members to take a simple pledge: Eat at least 1 meal and do at least 1 activity together every week.  As a Partner the IFIC Foundation will participate and help spread the word.  We encourage you and your family and friends to take the “Together Counts” pledge at:

www.togethercounts.com. 

This "Together Counts" pledge will encourage families to eat meals and engage in physical activities together.

Q: Kanisha, you took the "Together Counts" pledge today with your mother.   How do you plan to fulfill this pledge and what does it mean to you?

A: "This pledge allows me and my mom to work out as well as have fun together in multiple ways. For instance, just the other day we made a bet that whoever loses our family game night could not eat sweets for a week. That way we cut back on our amount of sweet intake. Another example is when my mom, aunt, and I go for a family bike ride on a nearby trail.  Balance, variety, and moderation are key to not only the pledge, but a value I learned from IFIC. The pledge is as easy as a family dinner followed by a nice summer's night walk."

We are so proud of Kanisha and wish her all the best with her future!  As "Together Counts" launches across the country, we also know that it starts here, with us, so please take the pledge at http://www.togethercounts.com/