| Many parents and teachers have a stronger | | | | students now enjoy eating from a salad bar or picking |
| commitment to health and wellness, with concerns of | | | | up a yogurt with their lunches. Students will drink |
| childhood obesity on the rise. There are a number of | | | | bottled water, sports drinks or juice with their lunch |
| healthy activities and initiatives that a school can | | | | instead of soda. Some schools are choosing to |
| support in order to promote the health of students. | | | | prepare foods with fresh ingredients instead of all |
| 1. Walk-a-thon. Walk-a-thons have become more | | | | pre-packaged frozen meals. There is now competition |
| popular over the years. Holding a walk-a-thon for your | | | | between outside catering services not only to provide |
| school is an excellent idea. This could even serve as a | | | | attractive pricing but also healthy foods. |
| fundraiser for your school or one of its programs. Kids | | | | 5. Healthy Options at the Sports Concession Stand. |
| can raise funds by asking friends, family and neighbors | | | | There are many reasons to offer healthy options at |
| for pledges. This could be a kids only or family wide | | | | the school concession stands. Many families are very |
| even where parents and community members | | | | busy and the sports concession stand may provide |
| participate as well. Ideally your walk-a-thon would begin | | | | the family meal for the evening. Having healthy choices |
| and end at your school campus. | | | | will give people more to choose from than just the |
| Fall and spring are perfect times in most parts of the | | | | usual burgers and hot dogs. |
| country to hold a walk-a-thon, as the weather is milder | | | | Providing consideration for people with dietary |
| and most people enjoy walking outside in this weather. | | | | restrictions is also another reason to offer a variety of |
| Make your walk-a-thon fun with a celebration at the | | | | foods. Offering lighter options for those on weight loss |
| end for everyone with healthy snacks and | | | | diets, dairy free items and vegetarian options will be a |
| entertainment such as music and outdoor games. | | | | welcome change for some of your sports fans. |
| 2. Other 'thons. 'Thon events are popular because | | | | Here are a few items to consider for your concession |
| children enjoy the healthy sense of competition that a | | | | stand menu: deli sandwiches, granola bars, dried fruit, |
| 'thon event brings out in them. A great active 'thon | | | | baked potato chips, frozen chocolate covered |
| would be to hold a dance-a-thon event. The video | | | | bananas, veggie pizza, and trail mix. |
| game Dance Dance Revolution is quite popular with | | | | 6. Healthy Food Fundraisers. Selling healthy foods such |
| children and some schools have even done | | | | as fruit, bottled water or nuts is one idea for a great |
| DDR-a-thons where children dance to the video game. | | | | fundraiser. Selling the fruit during the lunchtime as a |
| There are lots of other 'thon ideas. A skate-a-thon or | | | | special treat would allow the students to enjoy the fruit |
| a bike-a-thon could be fun if your school has the room | | | | and also encourage healthy eating. There are a variety |
| for everyone to ride their bikes or a place for kids to | | | | of low fat varieties available for traditional fundraisers |
| skate. | | | | like cookies and cookie dough. |
| 3. Activity Day. A Fitness Fun Day is an update to the | | | | 7. Support Physical Education and Athletics Programs. |
| traditional field day. It's a full day of activities for children | | | | Parents should voice their support for PE and recess |
| that can include soccer, baseball, badminton, basketball | | | | at the elementary school level. Many schools have |
| and dancing. A big parachute is also used for different | | | | nearly eliminated these activities in recent years. Let |
| games and activities. There is so much for the children | | | | kids have fun, play games and be active. At the junior |
| to do and enjoy that day. | | | | high school and high school level make sure that fun |
| The fun of an activity day is that is allows children to | | | | and creative PE classes are offered for students not |
| try so many different activities, that while you may not | | | | on sports teams. Make your voice heard on this issue |
| like every activity, if there are a variety of activities | | | | to your principal, school board and state and national |
| offered you are sure to like many that are there. | | | | legislatures. |
| 4. Healthy Foods in the Cafeterias. Schools are | | | | With a little creativity here and there your school can |
| working to ensure that lunches offered are tasty and | | | | make great strides in promoting healthy lifestyles for |
| are things that students enjoy eating. It is important that | | | | students. Parents can work together to make sure |
| items offered are healthy, but they must also be items | | | | that healthy activities and foods are offered at the |
| that students will reach for and want to eat. Many | | | | school. |