March is National Nutrition Month. As coordinators with Healthy Kids Chaves County, Paula Camp and Becky Joyce support healthy eating and physical activity in local schools and among children in Chaves County with many activities throughout the year.
Recently, the schools in Chaves County participated in the Healthier US School Challenge through the United States Department of Agriculture. All 12 of Chaves County’s elementary schools received a national award from the USDA noting their excellent physical activity and nutrition guidelines. Ten schools received silver awards and two schools received bronze.
Also, every year in the fall, the Healthy Kids Chaves County 5210 Mayor’s Challenge encourages students for 21 days to eat five (5) fruits or vegetables every day, with (2) two hours or less of screen time, (1) one hour of physical activity each day and (0) represents drinking water. All who complete the challenge receive medals in all schools in Chaves County and names are drawn from those to win a bicycle at each school.
Another healthy activity in coordination with Healthy Kids Chaves County includes a day when some of the high school football team members visit the elementary schools during the “Eat Smart to Play Hard Fun Day.”
Joyce said in an email, “Jeff Lynn, RHS football coach, is so great to send some of his players for our ‘Fun Days’ to play with the elementary kids. They look forward to playing with the high school players.”
