Health

On July 30, the Health Solutions Team (HST) of Unite Escambia held a Health Carnival at the Fricker Community Center near downtown Pensacola.

The carnival was a tremendous success. Over 200 youth from various Play Pensacola summer camps were in attendance, learning about and experiencing the benefits of healthy eating habits and regular physical activity.

The young people participated in a wide variety of contests and activities.  We found out how long they could spin a hula hoop or jump rope.  They also tested their skills in a series of potato sack races.  Other activities included the ring toss, the bean bag toss, and a health trivia game.

The Health Solutions Team developed a series of snack booths that assisted in the development of healthier eating habits.  The young people had the opportunity to try a wide range of fruits and vegetables that they may have never tried before, such as mango, cantaloupe, spinach, and yams.  The HST also provided booths where they could build their own veggie pizzas, trail mix, or parfaits using fresh, healthy ingredients.

Unite Escambia and the Health Solutions Team would like to thank the Escambia County Medical Society, as well as Play Pensacola, for their generous support of this endeavor.  We would also like to thank the Fricker Community Center for providing a wonderful venue for the Health Carnival.  Last but not least, we would like to thank all of the volunteers who pitched in, lent a helping hand, and made this event so successful.

Hopefully, we can do this again real soon!

Two Escambia County Health Department employees serve vegetable-loaded pizza bagels to children at the Healthy Carnival.

On July 30th 2010, the Health Solutions Team (HST) served its mission of teaching kids to make healthier, smarter decisions through a "Healthy Carnival" at the Fricker Community Center. Kids between the ages of five and fourteen enrolled in area summer camps were able to learn about the benefits of fitness and nutrition at the event. Throughout the day, HST members and other community volunteers operated game booths, food stands, and competitions to ensure that the children would experience the different components of physical health while providing the energy and enthusiasm needed to make the experience a memorable one. While no one volunteer can be certain of the exact impact of his or her efforts, volunteers can be assured that a difference was made.

Being that approximately 37% of Escambia County's children are overweight, of which 9% are obese, the fact that they were exposed to fruits and vegetables at the Healthy Carnival that they may not encounter otherwise, proves to be incremental success to the Team's and community's long term mission of decreasing childhood obesity rates in Escambia County. To play on Armstrong's beloved words, "One small step for the community's children, one giant step in the life of a child."

Now that you know what a walking school bus is and why you should start one, now is the time to learn how to start one. Here are a few simple steps that can be followed to jump start a walking school bus in your neighborhood:

1. Organize a group of people who share the same interest in creating a walking school bus. This group can also take charge of organizing the plans for the walking school bus.
2. Schedule an official meeting to unify the thoughts and ideas of all those involved. Most importantly, decide on what steps are necessary for group members to take next.
3. Identify any issues or conflicts that are present. Be aware that every program, especially those newly established, has kinks that need to be worked out. Gather as much information as possible, and conduct research so that results of the program can be measured further down the line.
4. After identifying issues within the program, come up with solutions. Develop strategies for proper education, encouragement, engineering, and enforcement of rules and other guidelines for the program.  Always remember that safety is the number one priority.
5. Develop a plan to officially start the walking school bus. Keep the plan short and simple to avoid any unnecessary confusion. The plan should include a planned route and time schedule in addition to the encouragement, enforcement, education, and engineering strategies developed in the previous step.
6. To kick off the start of the walking school bus, arrange an event that families within the community can enjoy. This will give the parents and children an opportunity to meet one another and ensure that the program is off to a positive start. One great event to participate in is International Walk to School Day- an event held every October where students from over 5,000 schools across the globe make a commitment to walk or ride their bike to and from school that day.
7. After the program has been in place for some time, it's vital to evaluate the progress or success of the program. Once you know how successful the program is, spread the word to others in your community and encourage them to start a walking school bus of their own!

That's all there is to it. Starting a walking school bus is easy, and the benefits can last a lifetime. When are you going to start a walking school bus so your community can benefit from healthier lifestyles?

Interested in learning more about school and community gardens? Join the Health Solutions Team for our July meeting, this Thursday (July 29th) from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Health First Network (715 S. Palafox Street). Please click here to review the agenda.

If you have any questions, please contact Nakia Beasley at nakia_beasley@doh.state.fl.us or 850.595.6272. We look forward to seeing you!

Next month, kids go back to school. Obviously, this is a hectic and stressful part of the year for parents and children alike. Whether it is gathering all the new school supplies the kids will need, or purchasing them clothes that they will hopefully wear more than once, parents have so many important decisions to make.

Another important decision parents must make in preparation for the new school year is deciding how to feed their children. With the ever-increasing rate of childhood obesity in America, parents must make a concerted effort in providing their children with a healthy, balanced diet.

Here are some suggestions that parents may find helpful.

• Pack Lunches the Night Before - Mornings are hectic for every family. Parents have to make sure the kids leave the house with breakfast in their bellies, clothes on, teeth brushed, and hair combed.  Packing the child's lunch the night before saves a lot of time for other things to stress a parent out before they've had their first cup of coffee.

• Keep the Crust! – When making sandwiches, a lot of kids have a tendency to want the crust cut off. Don't give in to their demands! Bread crust is rich in healthy antioxidants that can help prevent cancer.

• Skip the PB&J - Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are a staple of the home-packed school lunch. While they're certainly tasty, they are not a good option for everyday consumption. The peanut butter is loaded in fat, and jelly, while fruit-flavored, is loaded with added sugar. Parents can try sliced lean meats such as turkey and chicken, which serve as excellent sources of protein.

• Whole Grains - Sandwiches made using whole-grain bread provide much more nutritional value than sandwiches made with white bread. Whole-grain bread provides more protein, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber than the refined-grain 'white' bread.

• Reuse Containers – Instead of using disposable plastic zip-bags, sort your child's lunch in reusable plastic containers. These containers can be easier to open while keeping the food fresh for longer periods of time. Also, these reusable containers can save you a hefty penny in the long run.

• Parents can also use refillable aluminum water bottles that are sold at most retail stores. Sending the kids to school with one of these in their lunchbox instead of a can of soda or a juice-box will not only be better for the child's health, but will also help save the parents plenty of money over time.

• Cut it Up! - Instead of packing a bag of potato chips with your child's lunch, cut some fruits and vegetables into smaller, bite-size pieces, and store them in a reusable container. Not only will cutting them up make the fruits and veggies easier to eat, but they will also be easier to save for a snack later in the day.