Happy (early) Valentine's Day! My kids are just getting old enough to recognize and ask for all of the candy that's associated with Feb 14, so I'm loving @SchoolBites' great ideas for keeping it healthy, below! We're keeping the drumbeat going around Flint, talking about the importance of justice reform for families, sharing some great tips on cooking with kids from supermom Kelle, and more. As always, please read and share! 

1. TOP STORIES

On Valentine’s Day Families need #JusticeReformNOW

Two-thirds of women in the federal prison system are incarcerated for nonviolent drug offenses, the majority of whom have children. Sign on to our Valentine’s petition to tell Congress: Take action to roll back the incarceration industry and restore families in America. We need you to help us flood Speaker Paul Ryan’s office on Valentine’s Day!

This week, Alicia Keys released a Valentine’s video message to Speaker Paul Ryan, asking him to bring criminal justice reform to a vote. MomsRising is joining in the call for #JusticeReformNOW with Alicia Keys’ We Are Here movement and #cut50.

Valentine's Day CAN be Healthy!

Don't be intimidated by the onslaught of chocolate and candy. There are tons of great ideas for keeping Valentine's Day fun and healthy! Here's a quick round-up of some of our favorites from Stacy Whitman of @SchoolBites!

• Heart Melon Pops
• Healthy Banana Split
• Be-Still-My-Beating-Heart Sandwich
• Angel Food and Fruit Kabob
• Valentine's Fruit Cup

Don't panic, most of these can be made with store-bought food. Check out details and more great ideas from Stacy on her blog. And we hope you have a very happy and healthy Valentine's Day! 

Jack in the Box Drops Soda from Kids Menu!

After years of pressure from MomsRising.org, parents and nutrition advocates, Jack in the Box has announced that it will drop sugary sodas as an option from their kids meals and menus. The removal of soda pop products as an option from kids menus in all 2,200 of their restaurants nationwide will go into effect immediately. Another thanks to everyone who has signed, shared and spoke out about healthy kids meals! This is your victory! 

2. TIPS AND RESOURCES

• A Muslim Moms Visit with President Obama, by Khadijah Gurnah on the MomsRising blog. 
• Join us in demanding justice for the people of Flint. Everyone deserves access to clean water, no matter where they live. That's why we're beyond mad about the lead contamination of drinking water in Flint, Michigan. 
• New report from Healthy Living Research provides expert panel recommendations on minimum stocking levels and marketing strategies for healthful foods in small retail food stores.
• Dozens of groups released a letter asking Yum Brands (home to KFC, Taco Bell, and more) to clarify and strengthen their weak antibiotics use policy. Add your voice here. 
• Kids see more than 40,000 commercials/year. A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has found that exposure to junk food advertising increases a child's likelihood to eat more food, and subsequently to become overweight. Source: BMSG

3. CONNECT

Meet other parents, share experiences and find great resources with us on Facebook and Twitter. Here are a few places you should check out if you haven't already!

• The Good Food Force Facebook group! This week we're talking about meal planning, protecting recess in Florida and more!  
• Last week we also launched our new MamasConPoder bilingual Facebook group!
• Join us every Friday from 1-2pm ET for the #FoodFri Tweetchat. This week we're talking about the wins around getting soda out of kid's meals, including our latest victory with Jack in the Box!
• We're talking about health and wellness during the weekly #WellnessWedTweetchats, every Weds at 2pm ET
• And every Thursday at 2pm ET we're chatting about quality early learning via our #EarlyEdChat

4. VOICES OF THE GOOD FOOD FORCE

NC Mom Kelle Shares Tips on Cooking with Kids

Supermom Kelle is inspiring us to make cooking with kids a priority. On why it's so important, Kelle says: "Cooking can be a fun time to bond with your kids, as well teach basic cooking education. Your kids will become more independent and confident." Here are some tips on age-appropriate tasks: 

• 2 to 4-year olds children can stir, roll, and even mash ingredients in a large deep bowl. This age group, however, needs very close adult supervision since their dexterity and motor skills are still developing.
• 5 to 7-year olds can help with reading recipes, measuring, juicing, and prepping, and gathering certain ingredients. They may still need reminders to watch their fingers during grating and peeling.
• 8 to 11-year olds can cut, use specialty appliances like the panini press, waffle, ice cream maker, bigger knives and maybe even able to roast veggies. Now with a grasp of some basic cooking skills and an appreciation for the rules of the kitchen, young cooks are ready to take on more complex tasks using more kitchen equipment. Of course, close and constant supervision are required at all times.
• 12 & up* This group can place and remove food from the oven, and even help create a healthy menu for an entire week.

Read more from Kelle on her blog! 

Thank you for all you do!