Madeline Empowers Others with empowerME

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s empowerME campaign is a by kids, for kids movement that’s inspiring all kids to make healthy behavior changes and to become leaders and advocates for healthy eating and physical activity.

10-year-old Madeline embodies the movement’s goals to engage, educate and activate. When she was just two years old, her pediatrician discovered that she had high cholesterol. With a family history of heart disease, diabetes and obesity, “I wanted Madeline to know that she could make better choices and that this didn’t have to be her history,” says her mom, Tina.

Madeline connected with Yum-o!’s partner, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, and its empowerME movement, where she discovered ways that she could change not only her own habits, but those of her family as well. She is one of over 2 million kids across the country who have joined empowerME, committing to eat better and move more and use their own voices to motivate each other, get educated and get activated.

Madeline has been spreading the message about healthy eating and staying active to her fellow students, teaching them how little changes can go a long way when it comes to healthy snack ideas and ways to get active. She’s also started a community garden called the Smart Garden! “I feel like it could be different for me, if I just change the way I eat and how I exercise,” says Madeline. “I want to live longer, and I want to live healthy.”

Watch this video from the Rachael Ray show to meet Madeline, and visit the empowerME website to learn how you can join the empowerME movement!