“Talking Taylor Schools” recently got a chance to discuss
the new “Building Healthy Communities” program with Holland Elementary School Principal Sue Massucci.
Holland is one of
two schools in Taylor selected to participate in the program, which is a
combined partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, the Michigan
Fitness Foundation, the United Diary Industry of Michigan, the University of
Michigan and Wayne State University. McDowell is the other.
The program aims to establish healthy lifestyles among school children
and create healthy environments. The program educates students through
classroom lessons, creates an environment that makes healthy choice the easy
choice, encourages students to practice lessons learned, provides opportunities
for physical activity during and after school, and improves access to healthy
food and beverages for students.
Question: How big of a problem is nutrition for elementary
school students, from your point of view?
Massucci: I don't want to make it sound like families
aren't feeding their kids, but we do feed lots of kids breakfast and lunch
every day. Our school also participates in Blessings in a Backpack, which
provides food for the child on the weekends. Many kids do not bring snacks from
home and save a piece of fruit or something from their breakfast to have during
snack time.
Given your experience, do young students want to "eat
healthy"? Is getting them to eat healthier easier when you introduce it to
them at a younger age?
We have found that kids will try healthy foods if their
friends are trying them. Part of this program and the programs we have
participated in before include the instructor bringing in healthy snacks for
the kids to try ... unusual fruits, yogurt parfaits, celery and peanut butter
or cream cheese, etc. We also have healthy parties with very limited or
no sweets.
Is it important that teachers buy into this type of
attitude, too?
Teacher buy-in is very important for the success of any
program. Our staff is on board and is looking forward to helping the kids and
themselves in making better choices and becoming more active.
Many districts, facing money crunches, entered into
contracts with soda companies, etc. In hindsight, was that poor policy?
Our district has been very proactive in not getting
trapped with the vending machines. Our wellness plan does not allow
vending machines or unhealthy products sold to our students.
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