Schools Focus on Fitness, Nutrition
by Shelvia Dancy
RALEIGH -- In school cafeterias across the country,
students often pick up a slice of pizza with french fries before grabbing a banana or an
orange. Even with rising childhood obesity rates nationwide, Wake County school officials
say it's a challenge to convince students to make healthy choices in the lunch line.
Schools have begun to offer more fruits and vegetables to
students. "We notice that there's more childhood obesity, more obesity in our society
altogether," pointed out Kelly Creech, who serves as the District Health Officer.
"So it's important to change habits to make things different."
That's why Wake County Schools offer fruits and vegetables
daily. And they’re also emphasizing nutrition and fitness in the classroom. All high
school freshman need to take physical education and health classes in order to graduate.
At Fuquay-Varina Senior High, many take fitness electives
after that first year. They also take advantage of the exercise equipment in the
school’s wellness center -- one of four in the county school system funded by a
federal grant.
In addition to offering vegetables and fruits on a daily
basis, the school system has also swapped white bread for whole wheat, and started baking
chicken nuggets instead of frying them. In February administrators will launch a new
program.
"We are targeting elementary-aged students," said
Jill Hively, Supervisor of Nutrition and Education for Wake County Schools. "Each
classroom is trying to reach a target goal of 600 or so servings of fruits and vegetables
and whoever reaches that goal first wins an incentive."
But not all students need an incentive.
Haley Tuone plays basketball and soccer, and she said
playing sports is a powerful incentive to eat healthily.
"Since I play basketball it's not really good to eat
pizza all the time and then go play basketball," she said.
Ana Gross said junior and seniors who leave campus for
lunch often wind up eating healthy food also.
"Usually a lot of people prefer getting healthier
stuff because when we go off campus we go off campus five days a week," she said.
"So instead of going to McDonald's or Burger King every day, it's nice to have some
healthy food thrown in there too."
During the last week of the February, Wake County Schools
will offer students a free side salad, fruit, or vegetable every time they buy pizza and
other a la carte items. Administrators have also expanded their "Changing
Hearts" health awareness campaign to include school employees as well as students.
Copyright © 2007 TWEAN d.b.a. News 14 Carolina http://rdu.news14.com/
Shelvia Dancy, News 14 Carolina,
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