Spirit and Fitness Day: The Power Behind the Play
What do you get when school nutrition staff and student athletes join forces to promote healthy eating and physical fitness? A fun-filled "Spirit and Fitness Day" in the Mechanicsburg, Pa. elementary schools.More than 1,500 elementary students in this central Pennsylvania school district helped spread the word that milk and physical activity are not only healthy, but also lots of fun. Spirit Day, held on Jan. 28, 2005, was the creation of Karin Marlin, school food service director, who used the "Milk: The Power Behind the Play" NFL cafeteria promotion as the basis for her program. Marlin planned a variety of special events in each of the six elementary schools, enlisting high school athletes as instructors and role models.
The athletes related the importance of dairy in their diets for peak performance to students. After leading students in warm up exercises, the athletes took them on a fun-filled Power Walk around the playground to encourage more physical activity.
Marlin used the school's public address system to air morning announcements during the week on "Fun Dairy Facts... Brought to you by MILK!" Cafeterias were decorated with a football theme, and each student received a football helmet key chain provided by Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association. The key chains carried the imprinted message, Milk: The Power Behind the Play."
A special district-wide event on Spirit and Fitness Day featured a mid-morning milk and cookie break during story hour. The stories read focused on dairy and physical activity. At lunchtime, the menu featured football-shaped chicken nuggets, onion rings, peas, applesauce or fruit juice, milk and a football-shaped sugar cookie. Students were encouraged to come to school dressed in the colors of their favorite sports team, with the Philadelphia Eagles being the most popular team. Parents received a flyer letting them know about the day's activities, as well as information on how milk is an important part of their children's diet.
Marlin successfully used the NFL promotion as an opportunity to extend nutrition education from the cafeteria to the total school environment. She generated excitement about the value of milk and physical activity in a healthy lifestyle and brought the district together at the same time.
Congratulations to Karin Marlin and the Mechanicsburg, Pa. School District for a job well done!
Courtesy of Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association
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