Growing Healthy Communities through HYPE

By Joy Sims

No matter the class, race, education level, age, etc. - Healthy Communities start with the people. Being able to acknowledge the barriers, utilize available assets, and work together to make your community a better place are all the steps that most adults are aware of that make change, but a wonderful thing can happen when you invite the youth to the table. In working with adult and youth coalitions, I’ve learned that while the barriers may seem the same, the perspectives can be very different. Youth voice is a powerful tool in any community because you are not only showing the next generation of leaders how to step up, you are also getting key input from a group that’s often overlooked and giving them the confidence to become the leaders we need for years to come.

In 2012, the original HYPE (Healthy Young People Empowerment) Project guide was produced for the Healthy South Carolina Initiative by the South Carolina Eat Smart Move More Coalition in partnership with South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control and the University of South Carolina Arnold School of Public Health. In many parishes in the northeast region, we have
adapted these teachings to build youth coalitions focused of making long-term changes in their communities. Check out this great activity from the H.Y.P.E. project that you can use to encourage young leaders to get involved in the advancement of health and wellness of their community! Have
the youth respond to the following questions:

• What enables me to or prevents me from eating healthy each day?
• What enables people in my community to or prevents them from eating healthy each day?
• What enables me to or prevents me from being physically active each day?
• What enables people in my community to or prevents them from being physically active each day?

Adapt these questions for younger students by asking questions like “do you think it’s easy for you/your friends to get healthy food where we live?” or “do you think you/your classmates have a lot of places to play where we live?” Instead, talk about the results of these questions together and ask what community changes they would make to address these barriers! We “greaux” healthy communities by not only learning about long term-sustainable change ourselves, but by guiding the next generation as well. Connect with your local LSU AgCenter to find out if
there is an active H.Y.P.E. Program in your community.

August is officially here and that means that the start of the new school year is right around the corner! The time is approaching to start thinking about packing not only work lunches but also school lunches again. By packing healthy lunches for the whole family, you can not only help your family live a healthier lifestyle you will also save your household money! The goal is to make sure that you are providing a balanced, healthy meal and that everyone is receiving the necessary nutrients they need. Packing lunches does not have to be complicated or time consuming. By following these simple tips, you can easily make a healthy lunch for the school day and workday for your whole family.

Do not forget to practice food safety when packing lunches. Perishable items need to remain cold. Reusable ice packs and a good, insulated lunchbox are great at keeping foods cold for an extended period of time. To keep drinks cold, try freezing them the night before and packing them in the morning. By lunchtime the drinks will thaw enough to enjoy them. Tips provided by eatsmartmovemoreva.org.

Leftovers, no extra cooking required

By Kimberly Butcher

The easiest lunch to pack is leftovers from dinner the night before. To make it work, be sure to plan for enough servings to cover dinner and lunch the next day. Sandwiches, a classic for a reason. Sandwiches are so easy to pack and are fairly affordable options. Instead of chips, pair sandwiches with veggies or fruit as sides. These can be prepped ahead of time in individual servings to grab quickly throughout the week. Build Your Own MyPlate, guaranteed to make a balanced meal. Bento box lunches are trendy these days. And they’re surprisingly healthy and way easier to pack than you think. Pack a serving of each of MyPlate’s food groups, put in a divided container and violà, bento box lunch! Smoothies and snacks, a healthy treat. Smoothies can be good ways for kids to eat more fruits and vegetables. Packin a thermos to keep cold until lunch. Pair smoothies with a few other snack items to round out the meal, keeping MyPlate in mind. Get the kids involved. Encourage kids to get involved in the packing process with foods that they like too! Kids are often more likely to eat their lunch if they have picked the foods out themselves. Plus, if they see you packing a nutritious lunch, they will be more likely to do the same.

Easing Into the School Routine: Better Mornings and Fewer Power Struggles

By Ana Gouge

As summer ends and school begins, routines will inevitably be changing. Easing your child into their school routine can be beneficial for both you and your child. Take time before the end of summer by practicing getting up with alarm clocks at a reasonable time, completing your ‘get ready’ routine with them- including breakfast! Work with your child by challenging them to ‘timed races’ and encourage improving their time. Visual charts may also be helpful and can reduce
your need to go through a “did you do X, Y, and Z?” question game. Have your child check off the list in a preferred order to help ‘remind’ them to complete all steps. Keep the chart simple—include the necessities without making the routine an overwhelming chore. Older children may do well with simply a written checklist on the back of their bedroom door or on the mirror in the bathroom. Young children do well with images or photos posted at their height so they can picture themselves completing each step of the routine. Utilize the night before in an efficient way. Have bags packed, allow your child to choose school clothes, remind them what will be for breakfast, and bathe the night before. Time is crucial in the morning when it seems like every minute counts. Reducing morning time power struggles sets a good day for your child. Sending them to school in a positive mood boosts confidence and positive behavior in school! Establishing an independent morning routine also fosters great self-help skills as well as personal responsibility. Also remember to provide encouragement and reinforcement for your child! A simple “I noticed you put your shoes on and put your bowl in the sink! That is so helpful, thank you!” Gratitude, no matter how small, is a currency.

Enhance learning with school gardening Growing a school garden can be challenging and exciting at the same time. It is so rewarding to watch a seed turn into a fruit, vegetable, or flower! School gardens provide opportunities for students to learn about agriculture and where their food originates. Gardening can also be used to teach life skills such as responsibility, teamwork, and art. Literature,
math, and science can all be taught in the garden. Gardening also provides opportunities to learn about healthy foods and provides an outlet for physical activity.

School gardens provide children with a space to touch, see, hear, taste, and smell as they use their senses while learning. Even if you don’t have an outdoor space to house a school garden, many gardening activities can be done in your
classroom. Hands-on learning experiences are part of what makes learning by gardening so impactful.

Kids are more likely to try fruits and vegetables they have grown themselves. Incorporating taste testing into school garden sessions can provide children with the opportunity to try new foods and develop healthy eating habits. Healthy
children are more ready to learn, so the benefits of good health are far reaching.

Did you know that the LSU AgCenter has information on school gardens available online? Head over to www.lsuagcenter.com and search for school gardens. You will find newsletters, funding opportunities, gardening project ideas,
and publications there. The Louisiana Farm to School Program also has great resources for school gardening programs. The Harvest of the Month program includes ready-to-go materials for use in your classroom or school cafeteria. You can even find funding resources for school gardening grant opportunities. You can find out more by visiting their website at www.seedstosuccess.com.

Whether you garden in your classroom, utilize raised beds, or have a full-scale school garden, your kids will be learning loads and having fun. Contact your local LSU AgCenter Extension office to invite an Extension Agent to visit your
classes or provide guidance for your garden.

By Cathy Agan