ORANGE COUNTY -- Young children in Orange County are learning the ABCs of healthy living.

The Healthy Kids Campaign teaches pre-school children the benefits of physical activity and healthy food choices. Organizers said childhood obesity rates in Orange County are among the highest in the state.

"Childhood obesity in Orange County is a crisis like it is in North Carolina and nationally," said Michele Rivest, who works the Healthy Kids Campaign. "One out of every three pre-school children and school-aged children are either overweight or obese."

She added, "children are developing health problems like diabetes so early in life, so we're trying to reverse the tide of childhood obesity."

The campaign has revamped menus at four daycare centers, including Little Teddies Daycare in Chapel Hill. The center's director, Norma Bell, said olive oil has replaced butter on the children's menu. They're also getting rid of sugary juices, and using fresh fruit instead of canned fruit.

"We offer a lot of fresh vegetables and fruits, and we use very little canned fruits," Bell said. "For snacks we have fruits instead of the juice, so we're just kind of staying away from the juice right now."

The campaign works with the four daycare centers now, and organizers hope to add four more next year. They also want to add a third community garden where children learn how to grow their own food.

Rivest said the campaign includes a third project, called 'Move It.'

"And that's working with our parks and recreation departments throughout the entire county to make sure children have opportunities for physical activity," she explained.

She said the habits children learn now will follow them into adulthood.

"It can be a tough sell because there's so much pressure to eat fast food and grab whatever is convenient to go, but I think this is the way to try it and we're seeing that it is making a difference," she said.

The campaign was launched by the Orange County Partnership.