WASHINGTON, DC — Parents know to shield their children against sunburn and skin cancer by using sunscreen. Now the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) and SuperKids Nutrition have launched a new campaign to help parents shield kids from many other cancers by showing them how healthy foods can taste great – and letting them know that moving more can be fun!

The Healthy Kids Today – Prevent Cancer Tomorrow campaign motivates parents and kids to take a Cancer Prevention Pledge to create a healthy future and become part of the movement to prevent 1 out of every 3 cancers.

We know parents have the power to influence their kids to grow up healthy and strong. Kicking off with a campaign alert for parents and a preview of fun, educational activities for kids, our cancer prevention pledge leads families to take small steps towards adopting healthier eating and physical activity habits that add up to lower risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Our goal is to support parents so their kids can grow up to become healthy, active, informed adults.

"It's never too early to start protecting your family from cancer," said AICR Registered Dietitian Alice Bender. "When families eat nutritious foods and are active together, you're teaching them healthy habits that help protect them from many kinds of cancer later in life."

And it's not just about long-term habits. Growing evidence suggests that childhood represents a special "window of opportunity" when everyday choices carry extra importance. During times of rapid growth like childhood and adolescence, our bodies' cells turn over quickly, making kids particularly sensitive to the effects of diet and activity. A healthy diet and regular exercise can provide protection, but poor diet and inactivity can cause the kind of cellular damage that, over time, may increase risk for cancer and other diseases later on.

"By joining forces with AICR, we can engage families to eat foods now that lower their risk of many cancers later. It gives parents the power to influence their children not just for healthy living now, but for life," says Melissa Halas-Liang, MA, RD, CDE, founder of SuperKids Nutrition Inc.

AICR research shows that if we learn how to eat smarter, move more and stay lean, about 1/3 of the cases of major cancers in the U.S. can be avoided. That's nearly 400,000 cases every year that parents could help start preventing today by taking the Healthy Kids Today— Prevent Cancer Tomorrow pledge.

By eating plenty of plant foods – vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans – kids absorb natural compounds called "phytochemicals" that help protect the body's cells against cancer. Plant foods also provide fiber as well as antioxidant vitamins and minerals, all of which research strongly links to lower cancer risk. Plant foods are also low in calories as long as they are not processed with added fats and sugars.

Cancer risk also decreases when people get at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity every day at any age. Being inactive, however, such as sitting in front of a computer or television many hours each day can increase cancer risk, regardless of a person's weight.

When it comes to cancer risk, weight is a major risk factor. Excess body fat causes inflammation, which damages cells and tissues. Over time, this kind of damage makes cancer more likely, says AICR. And currently, one in three kids in the U.S. is overweight or obese.

Eating healthily and being physically active both contribute to a healthy body weight. The Healthy Kids Today – Prevent Cancer Tomorrow campaign gives parents free toolkits so they can build healthy, cancer-fighting habits at home.

Small steps can result in big rewards. Take the pledge today to make small changes that decrease the risk of cancer in your family. Then, beginning in January, pledge to six monthly goals, using free toolkits from SuperKids Nutrition and AICR, to help stop preventable cancers from affecting your family:

		Put more green and orange vegetables into your family meals.
		Try one new whole grain and one new kind of bean each week
		Try going meatless one night a week – plant based meals are an inexpensive and easy way to get the family eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans.
		Get active as a family – swap 1/2 hour of TV time for 1/2 hour of physical activity time together each day