Program challengesYoungstown students to eat right, stay active

December 2, 2016 at 12:08a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Prevention, intervention and awareness are the three facets Paul C. Bunn Elementary students will focus on during their six-week walking challenge called Eat Right and Move.

“Kids are in school a majority of the day, so we think they should be getting up and moving during their school day,” said Megan Palmer, Akron Children’s Hospital youth fitness specialist.

Third- through sixth-grade students will be tracking their steps and fast-food intake to promote “awareness of how they eat outside their homes,” Palmer said.

“Actually seeing it on paper is something they can carry on in their lives,” she said.

That’s the main goal of Eat Right and Move: to educate children and their caregivers about the importance of wellness to incorporate the education into their daily lives.

Principal William Baun is excited to get families involved in Eat Right and Move because it turns everyone’s focus to students and their needs.

“If we can ensure some of our kids carry this on beyond the school day, it’s a success,” he said.

The program is part of a national goal to combat childhood obesity.

The walking goal will be for each child to take at least 10,000 steps per day. As far as healthful eating, students will be asked to reduce their fast-food intake.

Akron Children’s Hospital staff will distribute prizes biweekly to students who turn in their logs each week.

Palmer said she wants each student to reach 70,000 steps per week and achieve 420,000 steps during the six-week program.

“The biggest benefit we can get from a program like this is having the kids see the importance in physical activity,” Palmer said.

Not only is physical activity important for students’ health, it also can be important for academic success.

“We know the kids who are healthy do better in school,” Baun said. “If they’re eating healthier, and if they’re active, they tend to be more successful.”