Bilingual efforts in educating students about the benefits of living a healthy life are changing Colorado (21.3% Latino) charter schools statewide. The Colorado Health Foundation joined up with the Colorado League of Charter Schools to focus on health and wellness in schools. The way the program works is allowing nearby charter schools to collaborate with each other and create "pods" that are more sustainable, Rainey Wikstrom explained to Watchdog. Working in school wellness since 2004, Wikstrom has since then been a leader in increasing healthier school food, physical activity and teacher training for schools in the area. The program creates these hubs of health, allowing up to three charter schools to write a grant together, collaborate with each other and see what models ...
If you had grown vegetables as a kid, you might be more likely to eat your greens, reports a new study. The study put on by researchers from the University of Florida interviewed over 1,300 students and found that 30% of those who gardened as a child ate 2.9 cups of fruits and vegetables a day versus those who only may have watched parents garden, eating 2.4 cups of fruits and vegetables per day. "Hands on experience seems to matter," Anne Mathews, UF/IFAS assistant professor told Newswise. Other studies show that Latino kids are more likely to be advertised unhealthy foods and have access to unhealthy fast food and tobacco outlets within walking distance of their schools. Farm-to-school, school gardens, and agriculture or STEM farming in schools may help increase more ...
All kids deserve to have a variety of healthy snack and school food options throughout the day, as most students eat almost more than half of their daily calories at school, but many majority Latino- schools often don't offer as many healthy fresh fruit and vegetables or salads, reports a study from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. However, a new legislation within Sacramento, Calif. schools (22.7% Latino) is opening the door for schools to sell a larger selection of healthy snacks that will follow current nutritional standards. The 2016 nutritional standards ensure school snacks must be at or under 200 calories, have no trans fats, have less than 35% weight from total sugars, can be made with whole grains and are limited to less than 230 mg of sodium. Some of ...
When did it become cool to eat vegetables? For teenagers, it's when they are fighting injustices and rebelling against the status quo. A new study took place in a school in New Braunfels, Texas (35% Latino) revealing that teens are more likely to choose healthier snacks when they know they are being targeted to eat junk foods. Latino teens are more likely to be targeted for soda and junk food ads. In fact, some students are even targeted by junk food marketing in their own schools! However, the study reveals that if teens know they are being targeted, they are more likely to skip over unhealthy snacks. In the study, two groups of students were given information about healthy eating. One group read about the benefits of a balanced diet while the other group was informed ...
In 2008 an acre sized school farm started at IDEA schools on the border of Texas and Mexico in Donna, Texas, (92.3% Latino). The farming classes taught by Hernan Coldemero, practice agriculture basics and learn about food systems, all the while consuming healthier school lunches. In fact, 95% of the 6600 lbs of produce is used in school lunches while the leftover produce helps to keep the farm and schools sustainable, selling the produce to parents at the school's farmers market Noah, a student who comes after school to help take care of the plants and hopes to learn more about how to grow food so he can one day plant a garden at home said in the video, "Not all schools have this opportunity", he said, "If you're going to the cafeteria and eating fruits and vegetables, you can ...
According to the newly released State of Obesity report, Texas it the 10th most obese state in the country. Now the American Heart Association along with many other organizations are asking parents, teachers, and health advocates to step up for kids health and take action. AHA is asking anyone who is interested in supporting kids in Texas with more physical activity and access to healthier foods, to join the movement through social media and beyond! Latino kids often face limited access to healthy food and physical activity, creating awareness of these inequities is a helpful way to inform communities and get initiative moving for healthier changes. To join the Thunderclap and share the message, click here. To learn more about how you can take action for Texas kids, ...
Is your school on the healthiest schools list? Healthier Generation is asking anyone who cares about healthy schools to join the Healthy Schools Program! They hope to help build healthier schools by giving out free tools to help all kids enjoy physical activity breaks, help schools find healthy ways to fundraise and starting walking clubs. They also give parents and teachers healthy ways to reward kids, as well as free recipes. They even offer all materials in Spanish! To learn more about how you can play a part in creating healthier schools, visit ...
How can food banks work with local farmers and provide sustainability for local farms and people in need of fresh healthy foods? Partnering with local farmers, Mainers Feeding Mainers program, part of the Good Shepard Food Bank of Maine (17.6% Latino) has started an innovative way to capture and provide fresh foods to over 37,000 people. How do they make it happen? The simple system and social mission to help those in need have nutritious fresh fruits and vegetables have helped the program partner with over 30 local farms throughout the state since 2010. Over 60,000 children are suffering in Maine from food insecurity, explained Kristen Maile in the programs web page video. Maile went on to explain that it doesn't matter what the vegetables look like, or their shape or size, ...
Latino teens on average consume more sugary beverages than their white peers, studies show. In fact, about 74% of Latinos have had a sugary drink by age 5. But what if teens and kids knew the impact sugary drinks had on their health? A new study from Penn Medicine analyzed how teens perceived sugary drinks with health warning labels. Researchers from the Center for Health incentives and Behavior Economics used an online survey to gauge more than 2,000 teens, ages 12-18, perception of their favorite sugary drinks, some drinks included a health warning labels while others did not. The teens who didn't see a warning label on their beverages (77%) chose a sugary drink. The teens who saw the warning labels were 8 to 16 % less likely to select a sugary beverage.
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