|
Teaching Our yoUth Choices- Activities and Nutrition
TOUCAN
Teaching Our yoUth Choices- Activities and Nutrition or TOUCAN is a program developed
through the 2008 Safe Routes to Schools grant with McCook Public Schools. With
an Intervention Implementation Grant through the Office of Community Health Development
from Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, TOUCAN is able to reach
across Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department’s health district. TOUCAN
teaches Kindergarten through Third
grade students proper eating habits, the food guide pyramid, activities to be
physically active, calories consumed in relationship to physical activity, and
exposes the children to calorie counting.
Educating children at this young age will help them in choosing healthier options
or choices for nutrition and physical activity. It will eventually reduce the
high childhood obesity statistic in the state of Nebraska, but especially the
rural area of Southwest Nebraska.
The TOUCAN program is also mentoring with McCook Public Schools to establish
more schools within the health district, to make policy and environmental changes
in the Alliance for Healthier Generations program.
On February 3, 2010, we traveled to Frontier County to teach TOUCAN to the Kindergarten,
First, Second, and Third grade Physical Education classes at Medicine Valley Elementary.
Throughout the day all classes participated in fun games and activities appropriate
to their age group. They learn about fruits and vegetable, fat and muscle, food
portions, burning calories, and fun activities to burn off calories. Every student
received a TOUCAN sack filled with nutrition information from MyPyramid for Kids,
Fruits and Vegetables More Matters, Nebraska Dairy Council, the National Dairy
Council, a pencil and sticker with the TOUCAN logo, and a banana pen from the
American Dietetic Association. The Physical Education teacher, Derek Bantam received
education materials including articles and resources about childhood obesity,
Alliance for a Healthier Generation, promoting physical activity in the school
setting, body mass index chart, stature chart, weight for age chart, and other
nutrition articles/handouts.
TOUCAN is a beginning level tool to educate elementary children, school staff,
and parents about choosing healthier
options for more a nutrient-rich diet and being more physically active. Having
TOUCAN in Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department’s health district will encourage
each school or school district to make environmental and policy changes through
the Alliance for Healthier Generations and help to decrease the obesity rate in
Southwest Nebraska.
More Pictures
|