On a cheerful Thursday afternoon, families from Camp Pendleton in California and Fort Bragg in North Carolina tuned in to a special virtual event featuring the beloved Sesame Street Muppets.

Rosita, the turquoise Muppet known for her warmth and energy, led the charge by sharing her mango salsa recipe and then encouraged everyone, young and old, to dance along to lively music.

Laughter and movement filled living rooms across the country, all thanks to the latest collaboration between Sesame Workshop and the USO’s Military Virtual Programming.

This event marked the launch of the new “Healthy, Happy, Ready” resources, designed specifically to help military families cultivate healthy habits together.

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These resources, created by Sesame Workshop in partnership with the Defense Department’s Office of Military Family and Community Policy, reflect nearly two decades of dedicated support for military families.

For 19 years, Sesame Workshop has brought joy, comfort, and practical help to military households through research-backed programming tailored to the unique experiences of military life.

Because young children often process information differently than adults, Sesame Workshop uses the friendly faces of Elmo, Rosita, Grover, and their friends to connect with both kids and their parents in a language that feels familiar and inviting.

Over the years, the organization has worked closely with military families and consulted experts in childhood development, nutrition, and wellness to create content that genuinely meets the needs of their audience.

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With military families facing frequent moves, deployments, and changes, building routines around nutrition, movement, and emotional well-being can be challenging.

That is why these new digital resources are available online around the clock, allowing families to access them whenever their schedules permit.

The collection includes videos about cooking nutritious meals as a family, tips for starting a kitchen garden together, and creative ideas for turning daily activities into playful opportunities for exercise.

In her chat with families, Rosita explained that dancing is her favorite way to move, emphasizing, “I can dance whether it’s sunny or stormy outside.” Her simple message resonated with parents and kids alike, showing that healthy habits can fit into any routine.

Printable pages, recipe cards, and articles provide additional support, with strategies for meal planning, dealing with picky eaters, and transforming ordinary moments—such as transitions or busy times—into chances for connection and play.

For example, during the interactive question-and-answer session, mothers from both military bases learned that the resources address common challenges like selective eating and offer practical ways to involve the whole family in healthy living.

Jeanette Betancourt, Sesame Workshop’s senior vice president of U.S. social impact, noted a remarkable trend: families are not only sharing healthy ideas among adults, but children are now inspiring their peers, too.

“Sesame Workshop encourages families to share ideas, but they’re seeing that not only are adults sharing ideas with other adults, but kids are sharing with other kids, too,” she said.

Sesame Workshop’s dedication to military families goes beyond healthy habits.

In previous segments, the Muppets have helped children process big changes like deployments, homecomings, relocations, and even grief.

One touching example is when Rosita, as the daughter of a Muppet military veteran, shared her feelings about adjusting to life after her father’s injuries.

She described how talking to Elmo brought comfort and helped her family cope.

These important resources are still available on Sesame Workshop’s newly redesigned website, offering support for families navigating all sorts of challenges.

However, as military families recently shared, their most pressing need right now is finding simple, practical ways to keep children healthy amid hectic schedules.

Betancourt explained, “But more recently, they’ve heard directly from military families that they want to find easy ways to keep their children healthy that they can incorporate into their busy daily lives.”

Rosita wrapped up Thursday’s session with a heartfelt tip for handling stress, a challenge familiar to many military households.

She told children and adults alike, “It helps her to stop, take a deep breath and then let go.” With a laugh, she added, “Sometimes I need two deep breaths,” reminding everyone that even small steps count. “After that,” she said, “We hug.”

As Sesame Workshop and its partners continue to listen to military families and adapt their programming, Elmo, Rosita, and their friends will remain dedicated companions on the journey toward health, happiness, and resilience.

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