WOOLMARKET, MS (WLOX) -
Schools across South Mississippi are trying to come up with new and
creative ways to encourage students to get up and move. Every
Mississippi school has adopted its own Wellness Policy that includes a
fitness program, nutrition education, and healthier lunches and
snacks.
One Harrison County school is making some changes this year to fight obesity in the cafeteria and in the gym.
On
Wednesday, the cafeteria staff at North Woolmarket Elementary and
Middle School pulled out a tray of fries. They were hot and fresh out of
the oven. But can the baked fries please the palates of the young food
critics?
When asked if she noticed a difference, third grader Ryleigh Aaron replied, "Not really. It tastes good."
Her friend Anna Hokamp said the fries actually tasted better.
This
year, North Woolmarket removed the fryers in the kitchen and installed
two Combi-Ovens. The large ovens can bake, broil, steam, and poach.
"The
food's healthier and they don't even realize it," said Wanda Salley,
Child Nutrition Director for the Harrison County School District.
Salley
said there is another change this year that affects cafeterias across
the country. Students are required to pick-up at least half a cup of a
fruit or vegetable with their meals.
"Now, the state of
Mississippi and the whole country and our president's wife, Michelle
Obama, they're all interested in helping the kids to be healthier and
learn better," said Salley.
Third grader Blake Gollott ate all of the broccoli on his tray.
"Because it makes me healthy and strong, so I could lift weights up when I grow up," Blake said.
North
Woolmarket students are also stepping it up to burn calories while
building muscle strength. They are encouraged to get between 200-250
minutes of movement every week. That is well above the federal minimum
requirement of 150-minutes.
Along with an aerobics routine, the
school offers a variety of activities, like archery, to get students
interested in exercising. Even school fund raisers, like Hoops for
Heart, include some type of physical activity.
"We've got to show
them nutrition. We've got to get them physically active. And the more
they're introduced to it, the more, hopefully, it'll affect them and
they'll have a better lifestyle," said Salley.
The Harrison
County School District is also trying to encourage teachers and
principals to incorporate more physical activity into their classrooms
on a daily basis, and to hire more certified PE teachers.
"At
North Woolmarket, they're going above and beyond and they actually have
three certified PE teachers here in this school," said Salley. "They've
got a really good program in their PE department and we're really proud
of them for that."
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