Thursday’s lunch hour at John Tower Elementary was unlike any other, as students swapped their lunch trays for interactive charts and demonstrations led by the Wichita County Health District. The program, aimed at educating students on healthy eating, captivated the young audience with engaging, hands-on activities.
The initiative featured visual demonstrations highlighting the sugar and fat content of everyday foods, encouraging students to make mindful dietary choices. Students actively participated in exercise activities that illustrated the importance of physical fitness as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Program manager Monica Gill-Garcia emphasized that many children cannot control the food choices made at home. Therefore, the program focuses on teaching students how to read nutrition labels and make healthier selections when they have the option. “We want them to understand how to read a nutrition label or how to create a healthy plate and portion everything appropriately if they can,” Garcia explained.
Fourth-grade student Hailey shared her experience with the program, admitting that while some foods, like vegetables, aren’t her favorite, she learned the value of pushing through and making healthier choices. “Sometimes you just gotta face stuff that you don’t like to eat, like veggies,” Hailey said.
The Wichita County Health District also provides free nutrition classes for families, further extending its educational reach. “We offer the nutrition class to children in the schools, but we also offer it to adults. And it’s open to the public,” Garcia added. Interested individuals can visit the Health District’s website to sign up for free classes and access additional resources.
Through programs like this, the Wichita County Health District is spreading the message that small changes in diet and lifestyle can lead to significant improvements in overall health.
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