A Healthy Change
By Jeffrey J. Kuntz

A brave student takes a crack at "Name That Veggie".

Did you know that obesity is second only to smoking as the nation's number one preventable cause of death? Fewer than one in four kids gets 20 minutes of physical activity per week and fewer than one in four participate in at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day. My colleagues and I often wondered, "How can we help our students switch to a healthier lifestyle?"

Thanks to a grant from PANA (Pennsylvania Advocates for Nutrition and Activity), written by Deb Rummel, our school nurse, we were able to begin an exciting program of lifestyle change in our school. We began by first forming a School Health Council consisting of Ms. Rummel, our principal, physical education teachers, food service personnel and a representative from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. We also invited teachers in the building, the PTO and interested parents to join in the fun.

Kick it off. We began by first increasing the amount of time our students were involved in physical activity. In addition to the regularly scheduled weekly physical education period and daily recesses, we enlisted the help of our music and physical education teachers and instituted a weekly Music and Movement class for all students in grades K, 1 and 2. We also introduced a walking class for our intermediate students.

Here a health-conscious duo play "Dare to Eat That Veggie".

The official kickoff activity for our year of change was Apple Crunch Day, held statewide on October 13. Students gathered for a short assembly to hear about our planned activities and then snacked on apples and dip. Our school PTO generously purchased an apple corer for each classroom so students could enjoy a snack of sliced apples on a regular basis. Several classrooms also decided to use apples as the basis for instruction across the curriculum.

Just a few of the compelling scenes that took place during West End Elementary's Apple Crunch Day.

Go for the greens. Just before the Christmas break, students and their families participated in a Winter Foodfest. Parents were invited to come to school with their child to enjoy a healthy breakfast of juice, milk and muffins. Chefs from the local Indiana University of Pennsylvania Culinary Arts School provided students with grade-appropriate nutrition classes that used everything from puppets and videos to handouts and posters. All of our students then made and ate a healthy snack and received their own personalized chef's hat.

On March 17, we participated in another statewide PANA event, "Go For The Greens." In addition to participating in a statewide poster contest, students also played "Name That Veggie" and "Dare to Eat That Veggie." The younger students got to try bite-sized samples of several vegetables. The older kids received one point for naming each vegetable that Ms. Rummel had used to make a vegetable scene on a cafeteria tray. There were several well-known vegetables as well as a few that were a little more difficult to identify. Students scored one point for each vegetable eaten. Sixty-four students in four primary classes sampled 674 pieces of vegetable, with celery being the favorite by far. Students also planted vegetable seeds, which were then taken home to begin a family windowsill garden. Everyone then enjoyed a snack of green apples and dip.

Let's get moving. The final statewide event for the school year was Keystone Healthy Day, held May 4. Students were given the opportunity to exercise with the mascots of the Altoona Curve Baseball team, the farm team of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Also present was a dance instructor from a local dance company who got the students and staff moving to the beat of the music. One of our physical education teachers led the students in a relay. A therapist from a local hospital showed the students exercises using stretchy bands. Kids also enjoyed a walk along the Mahoning Shadows Rails to Trails.

One of our yearlong projects encouraged students, parents and teachers to submit a healthy recipe to be included in a school healthy choices cookbook. Submitted recipes were run through a computer program that listed the number of calories, grams of fat and other vital nutritional information. Interspersed throughout the cookbook were facts and figures about nutrition, as well as puzzles and games. Each family received a copy of the cookbook and several nutrition pamphlets.

Healthy choices. Even though the students had an opportunity to participate in several big PANA events, we tried to make gradual changes to their daily routine. We used pedometers and had walking contests. Our fourth graders paired up with our Life Skills students to form a mini-walking club that met several times each week during recess. A Yacker Tracker was purchased with the grant funds and used with intermediate students in the cafeteria. Our intent was to have students self-monitor the noise level and help to provide a calm atmosphere in which to enjoy lunch.

When we held special events during the day and evening, there were more healthy choices available. We began serving juices and water in addition to the traditional sodas and punches. We used pretzels, animal crackers and popcorn as treats and snacks. Annually, our PTO provides students with a make-your-own sundae bar for Valentine's Day. This year, low-fat ice cream was used and several healthy toppings such as strawberries, blueberries and banana slices were available. Additional kickballs and jump ropes were also purchased for students to use at recess, and teachers used extra time outdoors as a reward.

Enjoy life. As we plan for next year, we hope to continue calling attention to a healthy lifestyle through special events. We are also planning a quarter-mile walk track around the school grounds that can be used by all students and the formation of a Walk Club. We hope to also have "Family Walk" nights and "Family Walk to School" days. Our hope is to show students and their families that a healthy lifestyle is a fun and exciting way to enjoy and extend life.

Jeffrey J. Kuntz teaches fifth grade at West End Elementary School in the Punxsutawney, PA Area School District.

November/December, 2006, Vol.37, No.3