Disney Healthy Living Program Aims to Help Families Make Better Choices

Do you remember the first time you saw a Disney branded consumer good. It was probably Donald Duck Orange Juice. A fun way to get kids to eat a little more nutritiously. Disney knows that getting kids to become animated about healthy lifestyle habits is not always easy. To help,Disney Consumer Products (DCP) has announced a new program to equip parents and busy families with the tools they need to incorporate more of these habits into a busy schedule.

Through a series of weekly challenges over the course of 12 weeks, D-Lightful Living: Animate Your Daily Routine will give parents tips inspired by fun Disney-branded products on how to help motivate their families to make simple and easy changes like eating more fruits and vegetables, improving oral care habits and preparing for cold and flu season. Hosted on DCP’s official Facebook page known as Disney Living, each week DCP will feature a video challenge from the “Go-To Mom,” Kimberley Clayton Blaine — a mom blogger, child development expert and licensed child therapist. She will showcase simple tips and product suggestions to help other parents guide their kids toward a healthier lifestyle using products that feature their favorite Disney characters. The program will run weekly through the end of November.

“Encouraging children to incorporate health-minded changes, even small ones, into their daily routines is often frustrating for parents,” said Blaine, a mom of two boys. “With help and inspiration from Disney-branded products that feature some of kids’ favorite characters, moms and dads can inspire healthier habits that feel like fun and not a task.

Beginning today, families can visit the D-Lightful Living page on Disney Living Facebook to find out information on each weekly challenge including tips from Blaine and information about relevant Disney-branded products to help succeed with each challenge. Parents can also download a checklist outlining all 12 weekly challenges and tack this up around the house to help track the family’s progress. They can also join in the online forum to share their own tips toward healthier habits and enter to win a weekly Disney-branded product prize package.Through a sharing function, program participants are encouraged to let their Facebook friends in on all the action by inviting them to participate or working together to help each other meet their family’s goals.’

“From our nutritional guidelines to the ‘Magic of Healthy Living’ PSAs and programming, Disney has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to encouraging families to make better choices concerning their health and nutrition,” said Embola Ndi, vice president of Food Health & Beauty, DCP. “The D-Lightful Living campaign gives moms meaningful ideas and product solutions to help her family make these better choices while also showing kids that Disney makes healthy living fun.”

In 2006, Disney announced new food guidelines aimed at giving parents and children healthier eating options. Under these guidelines, Disney committed to using its name and characters on kid-focused food products that meet specific criteria, including limits on calories, fat, saturated fat and sugar. The guidelines also included a long-term target for balancing the licensed food portfolio such that 85% will be everyday foods with the smaller 15% comprised of special-occasion treats. DCP has achieved this goal in North America.