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Johns Hopkins Children's Center

Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes

Healthy Families Program

A Biweekly Lifestyle Medicine Group

Leveraging the experience of specialists in treating the complex condition of pediatric and adult obesity, the Healthy Families Program provides a first-of-its-kind, interactive, family-centered, healthy lifestyle learning group. The program addresses topics such as access to healthy foods and body image, while families enjoy the rewards of preparing and trying healthy foods in real time.

Every other week, the group meets for a four-part multidisciplinary visit. Each visit will be about 90 minutes, and there will be 10 sessions over five months.

Missing a couple of visits is OK! However, the more visits you come to, the more you will get out of the program. If you miss three visits in a row, we will ask you to take a break and wait until we restart the next session. A new session starts every five months.  

Referral Criteria

Children should be 5 years or older and have a body mass index (BMI) greater than the 95th percentile with a readiness to learn and work towards healthy changes.

Please let your doctor know that you are interested in the program and they can refer you through our Division of Pediatric Endocrinology. We recommend that you have started the process of working with a physician to address elevated BMI and that physicians wait to refer until the second visit.

a mother and daughter do yoga and meditation together as the daughter eats a cucumber slice

About Your Visit

Getting Here

When: Every other Thursday, 3:45 -- 5:15 p.m.

Where: Rubenstein Children’s Center (Baltimore)

Parking: Parking passes for Orleans Garage or Lyft rides can be provided. Please let our team know your needs upon scheduling.

On the Day of Your First Visit

  1. Please arrive at 3:30 p.m. The session begins at 3:45 p.m.
  2. Check in at the Rubenstein Children's Center front desk , located at 200 North Wolfe St., as you would for a regular appointment.
  3. Have a seat and we will call you back to the group clinic visit.
  4. Dr. Green will also meet with each family separately at each visit.
  5. After the clinic visit with nutrition, endocrinology, and behavioral psychology, we will walk to the Bloomberg Children’s Center Schaffer Auditorium. 

a family plays soccer together

What Happens at Each Session

Nutrition (~20 minutes)

Healthy eating habits are essential to overall health and longevity. Every other week, the team will provide approximately 20 minutes of education designed for children and parents on healthy eating habits that are appropriate for the whole family. Examples of topics in the 10-week series include:

  • identifying healthy fats, carbohydrates and protein sources at your local grocery store
  • how to read and interpret a nutrition label
  • what to eat when eating out
  • eating healthy without breaking the bank
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Cooking Class (~20 minutes)

Knowing what to eat is half the battle; learning how to prepare the foods we should be eating is the other. Every other week, we will work together in a mobile kitchen to make foods that are nutritious, delicious, affordable and can be made in less than 15 minutes. The best part? We get to enjoy all the flavors and fun together! Plan on getting your hands messy. Don’t worry, aprons will be provided to all our chefs — children and adults.   

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Behavioral Psychology (~20 minutes)

Addressing body image, mental health and stages of change are key aspects to healthy living. Our behavioral psychologist will lead group visits every other week over 10 sessions to help children and their families improve aspects of their lives such as:

  • self-talk
  • sleeping habits
  • mindfulness
  • mood
  • physical activity levels
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Physical Education (~20 minutes)

Having confidence in how our bodies move is key to staying fit. Every other week, we will have 15–20 minutes of physical activity as a family. This session is hosted by a personal trainer with experience in working with people of all ages and abilities. However, this is not your typical physical education class. This class will include:

  • beginner yoga
  • Pilates
  • chair movements
  • dancing
  • games
  • and more!

The goal of this session is to build fitness and learn activities that you can do on your own or with a friend/family member in your own home or space — no gym required!

Wear comfortable clothes, such as sweatpants or shorts and a T-shirt. 

 

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Meet the Healthy Families Team

Elaine Parry, R.D. – Dietitian

Elaine Parry has a Master of Science in nutritional science with emphasis in working with children with elevated weights. 
Dr. Elaine Parry

Stephanie Green, M.D., M.S. – Pediatric Endocrinologist

Stephanie Green is a pediatric endocrinologist who is board certified in obesity medicine and has a passion for healthy foods. Dr. Green will host the cooking class each session.
Dr. Stephanie Green

Meg Snyder, Psy.D. – Behavioral Psychologist

Meg Snyder is a behavioral health psychologist who specializes in understanding the economic, social, emotional and mental influences that can affect a person’s health. She cares for children with diabetes and obesity at both Johns Hopkins Pediatric Diabetes Center and Kennedy Krieger Institute Fit and Healthy Clinic.
Meg Snyder

SPIRIT Club Personal Trainer 

SPIRIT Club will be providing onsite training in a group session. Sessions will be led by a personal trainer with dedicated experience in working with people of all ages and abilities.
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Healthy Families Recipes

Visit the links below to download our recipes.