Teaching our kids to eat well at school: school cafeterias are our ally in the fight against obesity.

• Author: Stewart, Marin
• Position: GUEST column

TODAY'S GENERATION OF AMERICAN CHILDREN may be the first in two centuries to have shorter life expectancies than their parents. While there are many reasons, childhood obesity -- and its alarming rate of increase throughout the U.S. -- maybe the most devastating one.

Childhood obesity is of particular concern in Colorado. Though the state continues to be designated as the nation's leanest for adults, more than half are obese or overweight, and our children are faring even worse. The most recent data indicate that one-quarter of our children are overweight or obese. In fact, Colorado has the second-fastest-growing childhood obesity rate in the country, recently dropping from third leanest to 23rd in a matter of a few years.

As childhood obesity rates skyrocket, interventions focused in schools provide critical opportunities to combat this epidemic. In Colorado, nearly 400,000 children participate in the national lunch program, with upwards of 40 percent qualifying for free or reduced lunch. For many of these students, school-provided meals represent the only source of balanced nutrition they will receive during the day.

Yet despite dwindling resources, school districts must feed a large student population with minimal funding, making it challenging to serve food that is nutritious and appealing.

If we can support schools as resources that not only provide nutritious, tasty meals but also expand our children's appreciation for them, we can build healthy habits that will last a lifetime and combat the childhood obesity epidemic,

LiveWell Colorado, a nonprofit committed to reducing obesity by promoting healthy eating and active living, has developed a nine-week healthy cooking competition for Denver Public Schools high school students. Students who participate in EatWell@School will take on the challenge of preparing healthy school meals while learning cooking and nutrition skills that can be shared with their families and have long-lasting positive effects.

Led by Johnson and Wales volunteer chef mentors, students from Manual High School, Bruce Randolph High School, K.1PP Denver Collegiate High School and Martin Luther King Jr. Early College will learn how to prepare a healthy and delicious school lunch. Student teams will compete to prepare menus that align with the standards for public school lunches, including meeting or...