Reed Students ‘Fuel Up To Play’

By Eliza Hallabeck

Honeydew melons, snap peas, and brown rice were some of the multiple food options Reed Intermediate School students had to sample during their lunch period on Thursday, April 28.

Student Council members, Chartwells School Dining Services resident dietitian Jill Patterson, RD, and the New England Dairy and Food Council teamed up to make the taste testing event happen.

Last December, Reed earned a $3,000 grant from the New England Dairy and Food Council to support the Fuel Up To Play 60 initiative. According to New England Dairy & Food Council nutrition specialist Heidi Harkopf, MS, RD, the in-school nutrition and physical activity program was launched by the National Dairy Council, New England Dairy & Food Council, and the National Football League in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program is in more than 70,000 schools across the country and encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day.

“Reed has done a wonderful job this past school year encouraging their students to move more and to make healthy food choices,” said Ms Harkopf.

Student Council members oversaw the main tasting station were students lined up to try different foods. Some teachers and school administrators also tasted the food.

“This is excellent,” said Reed Assistant Principal Anthony Salvatore, standing near the whole grain tasting station. “Brown rice is the best thing in the world.”

Student Council member Cathy Hyeon said this was the first time the student council has participated in a food tasting event at the school.

“All the students get to try it,” she said. “I think it’s really fun.”

Near Cathy, Justice Zoto was one of multiple students handing out honeydew melon samples for students to try.

“We’re trying to get the whole school to eat healthy,” she said.

Ms Patterson, who was kept busy during the event, said the school has been working to promote eating healthy and staying active throughout the school year.

“Additional programs have included monthly cafeteria nutrition promotions, morning announcements about nutrition written and read by students, and morning exercises led by students over the morning announcements,” said Ms Patterson.

Some of the Student Council members also tried their hand at promoting exercise during the lunch period on Thursday. Students gathered on the stage to lead the cafetorium full of their peers through dance moves. By the end of the first song, students were standing at their lunch tables and dancing along.

Ms Harkopf promotes eating more low fat and fat-free dairy products, fresh fruits and vegetables, and more whole grains. She said the government has identified these foods as not being a large enough part of the average American diet.

“Reed really has a strong wellness focus,” said Ms Harkopf as students tasted food around her in the cafetorium on Thursday. “And they really wanted to join with us to try to get kids to move than 60 minutes a day and eat the right foods.”

For more information about Fuel Up to Play 60, visit FuelUpToPlay60.com.