The 2008, Sacramento County Children’s Report Card estimates that 27% of children ages 3-12 in Sacramento are overweight or obese. Last year, only 18.6% of fifth graders in the Twin Rivers School District met all six of the Healthy Fitness Zone Markers: aerobic capacity, body composition, abdominal strength, trunk exterior strength, upper body strength and flexibility, as reported by CA Physical Fitness Test results.
Several Sacramento area schools joined in a Healthy Choices Campaign, making a decision to do something about these staggering statistics by partnering with the following organizations: Health Education Council, Healthy Eating Active Living Collaborative, Network for a Healthy California, Dairy Council of California Children’s Power Play! Campaign and Fresh Producers. Orchard Elementary in Rio Linda is one of four area schools that participated in the program.
The students and staff of Orchard Elementary embarked on a four week quest to become and stay healthier by making better food choices, as well as becoming more active. Friday, May 29, 2009, everyone was brought together for the Healthy Choices “Cyclebration”, which was a cumulative event celebrating a new, nutrition education program that rewards students for their efforts to eat more fruits and vegetables, increase physical activity and play a part in creating healthy choices at school. The afternoon at Orchard Elementary was filled with outdoor fun followed by an awards assembly where a new Healthy Snack Policy was unveiled. The Healthy Snack Policy was comprised of ideas that the Orchard students submitted themselves when asked how they could make better choices with the snacks they bring to school each day. The final policy included major decisions such as no soft drinks or sugary sweets, but more water, dairy products and fresh fruits and veggies.
The Health Education Council had their Smoothie Bike on hand where the children were given the opportunity to ride a stationary bike that has a blender attachment built-in. So while they pedaled away, they were blending fruit juices, strawberries and ice in specially-made blenders on the back of the bike. After all the ingredients were well-blended, the students were able to enjoy frosty, fruity smoothies that helped compensate for the heat of the day. It was a great pay-off for the physical exertion of the bike ride! The students also participated in a kid's yoga session and games such as the Carrot Hop and the Berry Relay. While waiting in the shade for the transition from one class to another, the students took advantage of some hula-hoops. There were some pretty awesome hula-hoopers there. In particular, Kristine, an Orchard fifth grader, went for almost 20 minutes straight without missing a beat. She probably would have gone much longer if her class
didn't have to go back into the building.
Overall, the event was a huge success with the students very eager to participate in making these much needed changes in their lives. A few individual students, teachers and a whole class of fifth graders were given various prizes for “getting caught being healthy". Hopefully everyone, students and staff alike, will carry what they’ve learned on through the summer and throughout the rest of their lives.
For more information on the Healthy Choices campaign, visit www.healthedcouncil.org and www.dairycouncilofca.org.