Administrator

Healthy Kids Challenge tips and tools provide simple, low or no cost, easy to implement solutions for a healthier eating and more physically active environment. From basic getting started steps to ideas for active school health teams, HKC helps with templates for success.

Take 5 simple actions for a healthier school environment…and 5 reasons why

1. Sign-up for HKC’s free weekly Wednesday WOWS E-newsletter and receive simple, easy-to-implement ideas to support healthy eating-physical activity habits for kids. 

2. Use the Wednesday WOWS E-newsletter as a resource for putting wellness policies into action.

3. During staff meetings recognize teachers who are integrating nutrition and physical activity into daily practices. Allow them 10-15 minutes to demonstrate an activity for others. Support continued efforts by rewarding staff with HKC teacher-youth leader idea booklets.

4. Ask your wellness team to implement simple, low-or-no-cost actions for staff wellness. 
   
   Resources
   HKC-CIGNA Fit and Fun Family Tool Kit, Employers
   Ideas for employers and healthy habit tips handouts for employees
   
   HKC E-Challenge
   Sign up for a simple, monthly E-note Challenge for individuals (or families) to set a healthy goal

5. Role model healthy choices. Ideas:
   • Add simple stretches or other physical activity during a staff meeting.
   • Use a “walk with the principal” (rather than food) to reward students.

Why……….

1. Regardless of weight status, studies show a connection between healthier eating and student’s academic performance.
   -Parker, L.  “The Relationship between Nutrition and Learning: A School Employee's Guide to Information and Action”.  Washington: National Education Association, 1989
   -Food and Research Action Center, “Breakfast for Learning”,Child Nutrition Fact Sheet, 2007
   -G. C. Rampersaud and others, “Breakfast Habits, Nutritional Status, Body Weight, and Academic Performance in Children and Adolescents,” Journal of the American Dietetic Association 105, no. 5: 743–60, 2005
   
   Poor nutritional status and hunger interfere with cognitive function and are associated with lower academic achievement.
   
   Iron deficiency is linked to shortened attention span, irritability, fatigue, and difficulty with concentration.
   
   Breakfast = Better Academic Performance and Health!
   • Children who are undernourished score lower on cognitive tests when they miss breakfast.
   • Children who eat breakfast show improved cognitive function, attention, & memory.
   • Children who eat breakfast perform better on tests of vocabulary & matching figures after eating breakfast.
   • Consuming breakfast improves children’s performance on demanding mental tasks & reaction to frustration.
   • School breakfast programs can lower absence & tardiness rates & improve standardized achievement test scores.
   • Adolescents who eat breakfast tend to have a lower BMI.
      
2. Studies show a connection between physical activity and student’s academic performance. 
   
   Physical activity makes a difference!
   -California State Board of Education, “State Study Proves Physically Fit Kids Perform Better Academically”. Sacramento CA, 2002
   -Castellli DM, et.al.  “Physical fitness and academic achievement in third- and fifth-grade students”. J Sport Exerc Psychol. Apr;29(2):239-52, 2007
   • 
     Physical activity among adolescents is consistently related to higher levels of self-esteem & lower levels of anxiety & stress—each of which is associated with better academic performance.
   • A California Department of Education study showed a direct link between higher fitness levels & achievement test scores for math.
   • Physical activity is linked with academic achievement.
      
3. Studies show staff health promotion activities improve productivity, decrease absenteeism, and reduce health insurance costs.
   Marx E., et.al. “Health is Academic: A Guide to Coordinated School Health Programs”. Washington, D.C.: Educational Development Center, Inc. 1998
   
   School-Site Health Promotion for Staff has a positive impact on student achievement by:
4. Students Benefit from Healthy Teachers
   Symons CW, et.al., Healthy Students 2000: An Agenda for Continuous Improvement in America’s Schools. Kent, OH: American School Health Association, 1994
   
   By creating a healthy environment within the school and the broader community, students will be encouraged to adopt a healthier lifestyle, leading to greater academic success.
    
5. “School staff wellness may be the key to impacting a healthy school environment”. James Bogden, MPH, NASBE Center for Safe and Healthy Schools, April 2008

*KidLink™:  A HKC term used to describe people who can help kids make healthy eating and physical activity choices a habit

Healthy Kids Challenge helps school-based, youth organization and community initiatives incorporate nutrition education and physical activity into daily practices.  HKC solutions are AWE-some (A-appealing and fun – W-welcoming and inviting – E-easy and simple).