Tools You Can Use
Tools You Can Use
- RHow to Make Healthy Choices for Life
- RWellness Ideas
- RHealthy Event Ideas
- RCafeteria Challenges
- RHealthy Food Options for School Events
- RHealthy Fundraising Ideas
How to Choose 5-A-Day servings of fruits and vegetables!
- RBe creative! It's easy to get the right amount of fruits and vegetables by making small additions to your everyday meals.
- RIf you have spaghetti for dinner, add some vegetables to the sauce.
- RAdd fruits, like berries to your breakfast cereal or oatmeal.
- RKeep it interesting! Add hot-sauce, low-fat Ranch, salsa, or peanut butter to vegetables and low fat flavored yogurt to fruit for a different taste.
Have more water & less sugary beverages!
- RCarry a water bottle with you, that way you will always have water readily available.
- RKeep cold water in the fridge so it's ready when you're thirsty.
- RAdd a slice of lemon, lime, orange or cucumber to water or even mix in a little bit of your favorite fruit juice.
- RChoose sugar-free beverages and water. Don't keep sugary beverages around the house! If they're not there, you won't be tempted.
Opt for healthy snacks!
- RWhen shopping for snacks make sure to look at the nutrition label for foods that are high in calcium and low in fat.
- RPrepare healthy snacks in advance. Cut up fruits and vegetables and keep the servings in air-tight bags in the fridge, ready to grab and go.
- RMake sure you pay attention to the serving size and have only one of them.
- RCelery and apples with peanut butter are a quick and healthy snack.
- RLow fat cottage cheese and peaches are a great snack because you get your needed protein and calcium from the cheese and all the nutrients of the fruit.
Increase active play & decrease screen time!
- RTry not to stay seated for more than 30 minutes at a time.
- RWalk or ride your bike to school.
- RWhen you're at home, instead of turning on the TV turn on some music and dance!
- RThere are lots of activities that you can do at home without going outside. Do push-ups, do sit-ups, run up and down the stairs, play video games while standing up, lift weights (we have included tip cards for ways to stay active while at home).
Staff Wellness Ideas
Morning Exercises
If the school has already set up the morning exercise program before school starts, all staff, teachers and students should make an effort to participate in the morning exercises.
Sack Lunch
Staff can encourage each other to bring lunch from home at least 3 days of the week. To make this be an effective promotion, the packed lunches must also be healthy. A way to make everyone accountable for themselves is to have a show and tell of what everyone has brought to lunch. This will encourage staff to make healthier decisions.
Get the School Cafeteria Involved
As part of your district wellness plan ask the Child Nutrition Department to review the snack policy. Healthy snacks available for both the teachers and students are a great way to role model healthy choices.
Walking Club
Staff can start a daily walking club; they can have one during lunch and one after school to make sure everyone gets the chance to attend. Staff can bring a change of clothes and either walk outside around the campus or even through the school halls. Many schools like to start the day with an “all school” walking club for those who arrive early.
Staff Sports Teams
Staff sports teams are a great way to promote physical activity as well as a great team building strategy. Teams can be organized in various sports such as softball, basketball, volleyball, etc. The staff teams can compete against school teams, other schools or they can sign up a team at the local community centers.
Nutrition Facts
Many times, staff make it a habit to eat out for lunch and sometimes there is no other choice. For that reason, an effort should be made to make the best choice as to what restaurant to choose and what to order. To help with this choice, staff can have flyers posted in the teachers’ lounge or in a booklet with nutrition information for all the restaurants in the area.
Water Bottles
Teachers can be provided with school water bottles which they can use on a daily basis in the classroom. This will increase their water consumption instead of choosing unhealthy alternatives and will also serve as a positive role models for the students.
Faculty Meeting
Ask the district Registered Dietitian to speak at a Faculty Meeting. He/She can help you plan the meeting to include healthy breakfast and lunch ideas. And the RD can help you plan your campus wellness plan as well.
Healthy Event Ideas
Health Night
Invite parents to a Health Night where they are taught the goals of the Oliver Kids Team® – to make healthy choices. It’s the school’s chance to show the work that they are putting into the program and motivates parents to help continue these goals at home.
Family Night at the Park
Organize a weeknight where students, teachers, and parents spend an hour or two at the park. All kinds of games can be played such as horseshoe, volleyball, Frisbee, kite-flying. It is just a fun night to encourage families to get out of their homes and be active. Fruits such as oranges, apples, and watermelon can be served as snacks, plus water – which the parents can volunteer to bring.
Cooking Demonstrations
Parents and students can be invited to an in-school “healthy” cooking demonstration where they can learn simple and nutritious ways of cooking. It also gives them a chance to try foods they have never cooked, which will expand the healthy foods they can choose.
This event can be done on its own or it can be organized as part of another event such as a PTA/PTO meeting, an Open House, or any other school event such as Math Night, Science Night or Health Night.
Field Day
As a reward or just to have a health day, a Field Day can be organized. It can consist of a series of fun outdoor competitions, complete with an array of healthy snacks! We have provided a list of activities to help plan your school’s field day.
Morning Exercises
During the first five minutes of each day, students can do morning exercises to give them a little physical activity. Not only is this healthy for their bodies, but it will also wake up their brains and get them ready to learn!
The school as a whole can do it together outside or via the intercom. If that’s not possible the teachers can also organize exercise individually in their own classrooms. Check out the Tools section for songs and exercises that can be used to set up this activity.
After School Walking Club
Why not exercise for 30 minutes after school and invite parents to join in. A walking club for teachers, students and parents can be organized. It can be an everyday activity or maybe just a few days out of the week. The walking can take place around the school track, playground, or basketball courts. It’s a great way to get some exercise and to have a few one-on-one moments for kids and parents.
