EVENTS
HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Gift of Good Health Program
On Wednesday, March 7, the Isaac Bruce Foundation kicked off the Gift of Good Health Program in three local elementary schools. The purpose of the Gift of Good Health Program is to introduce children to healthy foods that they might not otherwise have access to through school or family. Through interactive nutrition education, fun food sampling events, and availability of healthy foods, the goal of the program is to increase the consumption of whole-grains, fresh fruit, and vegetables. To kick off the program, Isaac visited Hamilton Elementary and spoke with students about nutrition and healthy lifestyles. He also led the students in some exercises and distributed nutritional tips.
In conjunction with the Healthy Youth Partnership, the Isaac Bruce Foundation has adopted three pilot elementary schools and will sponsor food sampling events and snack rooms in order to introduce students to new breakfast, lunch and snack items that can improve their overall diet. During the events, students are encouraged to try new foods and educational material is distributed to provide students with valuable information about the nutritional value and health benefits of the foods they are sampling.
Research indicates that poor dietary habits and inactivity contribute to an increase of overweight and obesity among youth. Additionally, obesity places youth at a higher risk of developing health conditions like diabetes, hypertension, asthma, heart disease and high blood pressure.
The Healthy Youth Partnership (healthyyouthpartntership.org) is a growing collaborative of more than 60 community organizations. The Healthy Youth Partnership (HYP) is designed to be the one-stop shop for healthy activities, tips, resources, current research, and policy changes for all those committed to improving the health and wellness of youth and families in the Bi-State region. HYP Partners are combining their efforts to combat youth obesity in the St. Louis Metropolitan area. Together, they are developing unique programming and activities, sharing successful strategies and practices, and building resources to link and strengthen existing efforts.