MINSTER — Pupils here will soon be getting larger portions of healthy eating education.
Minster
schools and the Auglaize/Mercer Counties Family YMCA received a $30,000
grant Thursday from the Dannon Co. It will allow them to implement a
nutrition program to combat childhood obesity.
Allen Baskett,
chief executive officer of the YMCA, said such a program is needed
because childhood obesity is becoming more of problem across the
country.
"Our mission is to challenge today’s students to become
healthy and to adopt a more healthy lifestyle," he said. "Eventually,
they will be the leaders and we want to have healthy leaders."
The
YMCA and the school district jointly applied for the first Dannon Next
Generation Nutrition Grant. The company made the grants available to
programs in communities where Dannon plants are located. The local
money will go toward the Fit to Achieve: Good Decisions for Life
Program.
Baskett said there will be educational programs
promoting healthy attitudes and nutrition at the YMCA and schools.
Students will be able to keep dietary journals and physical activities
logs to help them monitor their habits. The program will target
elementary through high school pupils.
"Education in every aspect
of our lives, especially health and nutrition, is crucial for preparing
our students for productive and healthy lives," Minster Superintendent
Gayle Ray said.
Other partners in the program are Joint Township
District Memorial Hospital, Wagner’s IGA, Stallo Public Library, Haus
Der Eleganz and the Road to Life Cancer Prevention For Kids.
Baskett
said the grant is renewable, but the school district and YMCA will have
to provide Dannon with data first. He said pupils and parents will be
surveyed on the program.
