Program at Sacred Heart teaches students about physical activity, healthy eating

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
May 10, 2007

Students at Sacred Heart School in Sioux City learned how to "Go the Distance" during a day of events to promote physical fitness and healthy eating on May 3.

Judy Johnson teaches wellness two days a week at Sacred Heart and was asked to write a grant called "Go the Distance." She used specifics from nutrition plans, planning healthy recipes with family, learning how to prepare healthy snacks, etc.

"I wrote in the grant that I would like to offer nutritious choices to kindergarten through eighth grade," said Johnson. "We were awarded a $500 grant to organize the event and be able to complete the event day."

The national event day was May 2, but due to Johnson only teaching at Sacred Heart on Tuesdays and Thursdays, she moved the event at Sacred Heart to May 3.

During half-hour intervals throughout the day, the students went to the parking lot to talk about aspects of healthy eating, the food pyramid, the food groups, whether or not they ate breakfast and so on. They were able to choose a healthy snack and sit and eat it. Each student received a recipe book of healthy recipes and a water bottle as an award for the day.

"We purchased all kinds of healthy foods today," said Johnson. "They wiped us out. They ate everything that we had."

The activity portion of the day was supposed to be held in the parking lot with a variety of stations, but due to rain was brought into the gym. The kindergarten through fifth grade students participated in activities first. The sixth through eighth graders were brought in a little later.

"All schools were mandated by the Federal Government last year to write a wellness policy for their school district. I did that," said Johnson. "Through that I became aware of all the things we need to be doing in our schools. The students have been really open to it."

She added that it is a work in progress and the students are learning how to eat better at school and at home.

"It is cool because you get to be with your friends and have fun at the same time and stay active," said Samanantha Zeman, fifth grader. "We learned how to make healthy food, too."

She pointed out that she and her classmates made trail mix. Her favorite part of the day was walking around the gym during the activities.

Ryan Moore, a third grader, mentioned that learning about healthy eating and physical activity is good "because it helps us get in shape and it is fun at the same time."

His favorite part of the day was copying the teachers during activities in the gym.

Blake Bogenrief, a fourth grader, commented that he liked walking in the gym because it was fun and he got to exercise.

"I learned a lot - how to eat healthy and how to get the right amount of exercise," said Bogenrief.