Nutrition in Education Advocacy

Now Playing:Healthy Kids and Teens program In Shelby Co. TN

Students from Airways Middle, Caldwell Elementary, Craigmont Middle, East High, Fox Meadows Elementary, Memphis Academy of Health Science, Millington Middle, Southwind Elementary, Southwind High and Ridgeway Middle are all participating in a 12 week program hosted by Healthy Kids and Teens. 

Clintonia Simmons, the president of Healthy Kids and Teens explained that the idea behind the program is to make being healthy as attainable as possible by eliminate the confusion and complexity of health information available to the public.  "We don't necessarily have them counting calories, but we want them to be aware of how that all works in their bodies and why they continue to gain weight when they want to lose", said Simmons. 

The program has been available at some of the local schools for the past two semesters, however, this is the first time the program will be offered to elementary aged children. Activities include dancing to keep in shape and examining food and fat models to help understand what it is we put into our bodies. The underlying idea behind the program is that you have one life, with one body, so you need to that body with respect so it will last you a lifetime. An important component of the program is offering resources and advice to parents so they can support their children in making healthy choices.