Sesame Street for Military Families Debuts New “Healthy, Happy, Ready” Digital Support Tools for Military Families

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Resources encourage healthy eating and physical activities that are fun for the whole family

NEW YORK — [September 15, 2025] – Sesame Street for Military Families (SS4MF) is debuting new “Healthy, Happy, Ready” resources, a collaboration between Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, and the Department of Defense (DOD), Office of Military Family and Community Policy. This newest suite of support tools offers free, bilingual, digital resources that make healthy eating and staying active a family affair.

Through the new “Healthy, Happy, Ready” resources, military families can access fun, research-based articles, videos, printable activities, and recipes featuring beloved Sesame Street characters like Elmo, Rosita, and Grover. The materials are designed to help military children and their caregivers build lifelong habits around nutrition, movement, and emotional wellness—especially during times of transition, moving, and deployment.

“Through this partnership with the Department of Defense, we’re empowering parents and children to develop and maintain healthy routines and shared activities that will bring them closer together throughout their service and beyond,” said Dr. Jeanette Betancourt, Sesame Workshop’s Senior Vice President, U.S. Social Impact.

These new “Healthy, Happy, Ready” digital resources created with feedback from military families focus on fun family strategies that are both easy to implement and get the whole family involved. They include:

  • Three videos focused on preparing nutritious meals as a family; a guide for growing a kitchen garden; and ideas for making physical activity a regular part of the day
  • Three healthy, Sesame Street Muppet-inspired, easy, kid-pleasing recipes
  • Four articles featuring tips and strategies for meal planning and turning regular activities into play and engaging games, especially during a transition or busy military life
  • Three printable pages, which are connected to the themes of the videos, include information and fun ways to help you get the conversation started

The materials are accessible 24/7 at the newly redesigned website, enhancing engagement for users, and are tailored to support the diverse experiences of the military community.

“Sesame Street for Military Families resources have been a game-changer in our home,” said 1st Lt Alexandria Gordy, USAF. “They have helped my kids learn how to manage big feelings, helped us through two overseas PCS moves, and supported us through many TDYs as a dual-military family. With both my husband and me on active duty, things can be tough at times. These fun, engaging resources offer videos, games, printables, and even tools for parents like me to navigate military family challenges. As both a parent and a military mental health professional, I see every day how powerful these tools can be for the well-being of service members and their families. I’m truly grateful!”

Sesame Street for Military Family’s newest effort expands on nearly 20 years of commitment to military families, especially those with young children, addressing topics like deployments, homecomings, relocations, and grief. Now, with a focus on building healthy habits, the initiative helps families create new healthy routines during the multiple transitions of military life.

About Sesame Workshop

Sesame Workshop is the global nonprofit behind Sesame Street and so much more. For over 50 years, we have worked at the intersection of education, media, and research, creating joyful experiences that enrich minds and expand hearts, all in the service of empowering each generation to build a better world. Our beloved characters, iconic shows, outreach in communities, and more bring playful early learning to families in more than 150 countries and advance our mission to help children everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. Learn more at  www.sesame.org and follow Sesame Workshop on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and X. 

About Military Community and Family Policy

Military Community and Family Policy is directly responsible for establishing quality-of-life policies and programs that help our service members, their families and survivors be well and mission ready. Military OneSource is the gateway to MC&FP programs and services that support the everyday needs of the 5.2 million service members and immediate family members of the military community. These Department of Defense services can be accessed 24/7/365 around the world at https://www.militaryonesource.mil.

Contact:
press@sesame.org