Second and third graders learn importance of a healthy lifestyle.

For immediate release: September 29, 2010
Contact: Olivia Belter - (716) 857-6312

Buffalo, NY--Elma Primary School students recently participated in Univera Healthcare’s Fun 2B Fit program, which is a school-based initiative encouraging children and their families to make healthier food choices by trying new foods, increasing their level of physical activity, shopping for healthy foods and preparing meals together. This is the sixth year the Fun 2B Fit program has come to Elma Primary School.

The second graders have begun to hold weekly taste testing sessions where they are sampling recipes such as healthy versions of tacos, macaroni and cheese and pizza.  Students will receive laminated recipe cards to take home so they can make each recipe with their family.   The recipes are also available on our website at http://fun2bfit.univerahealthcare.com/recipes/index.html

The students also received a lime green, kid-sized chef apron to encourage them to cook with their parents and help with food preparation. Before sampling the cookie, students discussed the importance of trying new foods and that healthy food can actually taste good.

The third graders participated in a physical activity lesson entitled Why it’s Fun 2B Fit as part of the Fun 2B Fit program. The third grade students, led by a Fun 2B Fit fitness instructor, took part in a 45-minute workout and lesson developed especially for kids that incorporates easy, fun dance moves and stretches. During the workout, students were taught the various muscles of the body and their function, and discussed the importance of physical activity and how it can be done at home with family members.

Parents of all students participating in Why it’s Fun 2B Fit receive a backpack full of tools to help them make healthy choices for their families. Each tool kit contains a magnetic grocery pad for the refrigerator with pre-printed healthy items on each tear-off page, a magnet with everyday tips on how parents can keep their kids healthy, a Healthy Family Pledge to be signed and displayed in the home, and the tool kit itself is a sling-style backpack that can be reused as a gym bag, or to take on family outings.

Fun 2B Fit was created by Univera Healthcare to combat childhood obesity and is based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the New York State Learning Standards. According to the American Obesity Association, of six to 11 year olds, 30% are classified as overweight and 15% are considered obese.

26,000 Western New York students at 100 schools have participated in Univera Healthcare’s Fun 2B Fit program.

Univera Healthcare’s Fun 2B Fit program was honored by America’s Health Insurance Plan (AHIP) in 2008 with their Community Leadership Award. The award honors a member health plan that demonstrates excellence in community outreach and that has successfully implemented a community health program that could be modeled by other health plans.

Fun 2B Fit program partners include Wegmans Food Markets, Inc., Body Shaping by Sandy and Lifetime Health Medical Group.

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