Childhood obesity is clearly an epidemic in the US, and many look to school cafeterias as one contributor to the problem. In Georgia, nearly a quarter of students are considered obese by the time they are in third grade. Healthy Kids Georgia was developed as a challenge to educational leaders to help fight this epidemic. And today in Atlanta, a statewide contest was launched to help bring awareness to the problem.
Healthy Kids GA partnered with Dole Food Company and Georgia 4-H to launch a contest for GA high schools. The ‘Raise the Salad Bar’ contest will award three salad bars to schools whose students submit the best essay or video about how their school is working to meet Georgia’s health education standards.
The intention is to show high school students that fruits and vegetables can be a tasty part of a balanced diet. Supported by Georgia’s Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, the contest is designed to help create healthier school environments in the state. Science shows eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables correlates with a healthier heart, lower risk of cancer, better brain function and a longer life.
Think you know a school that could use a yummy salad bar from Dole? Go to http://www.raisethesaladbar.com/ for entry details. The contest runs through February 3, 2012.
$20 off the royal peek
