It's a tough day. Our hearts are heavy following yesterday's tragic events in California, so we're starting this update with MomsRising's statement on the shootings. Then read on to find some uplifting news about soda in kids' meals, a couple of great tweetchats happening this week (one today) and more. As always, thank you for all you do. We're so honored to work alongside you in demanding a more just world. 

1. TOP STORIES & QUICK ACTIONS

#NotOneMore

In the 336 days of 2015, there have already been 355 mass shootings. Our thoughts are with the San Bernardino mass shooting victims and their families, the many people and caregivers who work at the Inland Regional Center, a facility that serves people with developmental disabilities, and with the first responders, the community, and our nation. As we grieve, we hear the call of many of our members urging us to act together to stem the tide of gun violence in our country.

*Stand with MomsRising in demanding that Congress advances gun safety and community safety policies immediately by signing on here now. We will deliver your signatures to every member of Congress so they know that we are paying attention, watching their votes, and counting on them to prioritize families over the gun lobby.

Mom Victory! IHOP, Applebee’s to Eliminate Sugary Sodas from Kids’ Menu

Great news! DineEquity, the owner of IHOP and Applebee’s restaurant chains, announced that they are removing soda as a default option on the kids’ menu at their restaurants. MomsRising has urged DineEquity and other chain restaurants to improve the nutritional quality of kids' meals by promoting healthier drink options for children. The voices of moms and families are being heard far and wide! DineEquity now joins Dairy Queen, Burger King, Wendy’s, Subway, Chipotle, and Panera in making this important first step. THANK YOU to everyone who has spoken out about the impacts of sugary drinks on our kids and communities. It's working! Read more on the website. 

2. TIPS & RESOURCES

Why is Soda Such a Big Deal, Anyway? 

We'll admit: it can be a little tricky speaking to people about why curbing soda consumption is such a big deal. Yes, we're all good parents and yes we can say "no" to our kids. But it's not that simple. Check out some useful stats that can help you talk about this issue with friends, below. Feel free to use and share these in your work (and let us know if you do, so we can share your messaging with others in the GFF!).

Fact: Sugar-sweetened beverages like soda are the single largest source of added sugar in children’s diets. And, they are the third highest source of kids’ calories overall. (1)

Fact: Drinking just one additional sugary drink every day increases a child’s odds of becoming obese. (2)

Fact: Families eat out twice as often as they did in the 1970s, with children consuming about a quarter of their calories at fast-food and other restaurants. Given the growing role of restaurant foods in children’s diets and the high rates of childhood obesity, restaurants should do more to help children eat better. (3)

Fact: 1:3 children in the US are overweight or obese. (4)

3. CONNECT

Thursday 12/3 (TODAY), 2pm ET: #EarlyEdChat Tweetchat: Social-Emotional Intelligence

Join MomsRising and Maisha Simmons of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation as we discuss a 20-year study on the importance of social-emotional skills in young children. We'll meet at the #‎EarlyEdChat hashtag on Twitter this Thursday, December 3, at 2pmET / 11amPT. Please join the conversation!

Friday 12/4, 1pm ET: #FoodFri Tweetchat: A Plan of Action to End Hunger

Join MomsRising and @FRACTweets to discuss FRAC's new Plan of Action to End Hunger. Released in October, “The strategies outlined in the plan offer concrete solutions, which can be achieved with renewed political will, for addressing hunger and its root cause, poverty, Federal nutrition programs alone cannot carry the burden. Unless employment levels and wages rise substantially, and working schedules, benefits, and work supports improve, we cannot solve hunger.” Join us on Twitter using #FoodFri!  

Be sure to sign up for the Good Food Force to get these updates delivered straight to your inbox! 

Good Food Force (GFF) Volunteers are real-life superheroes who take action in their schools and communities, and/or on their blogs and online networks, to get the word out about healthy school foods, junk food marketing to kids, and strategies that are working to reduce childhood obesity. Together with MomsRising.org staff, they help advocate for healthier kids and families. Help spread the word! Contact us: karen@momsrising.org

Soda fact citations:

(1) Source: Reedy, Jill, PhD, MPH, RD; Krebs-Smith, Susan M., PhD, MPH, RD. Dietary Sources of Energy, Solid Fats, and Added Sugars among Children and Adolescents in the United States. American Dietetic Association. http://action.momsrising.org/go/4062?ak_proof=1&t=6&akid=7396.2144554.F1.... Date: 2010

(2) Source: Ludwig DS, Peterson KE, Gortmaker SL. Relation between consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks and childhood obesity: a prospective, observational analysis. Lancet. 2001;357:505-8. Date: 2001

(3) 2012 ERS Food Away from Home Report. http://action.momsrising.org/go/4033?ak_proof=1&t=8&akid=7396.2144554.F1rMUf

(4) Source: American Heart Association. (Updated 2014, January 28). Overweight in Children. Retrieved from http://action.momsrising.org/go/6408?ak_proof=1&t=10&akid=7396.2144554.F1rMUf