While Illinois ranks tenth in childhood obesity, it is no wonder why some schools are beginning to change what they feed to their student population.  There is one non-profit organization aimed at just doing that, Healthy School Campaigns.  Located here in Chicago, Healthy School Campaigns is aiming to provide a better environment in all schools.  

HSC just launched a holistic, school-based plan to make wellness a part of every child’s school experience.  This is aimed on focusing and educating the whole child -- including physical education, recess, food education and other wellness initiatives -- offers tremendous benefits for children’s cognitive and social development as well as their health.

Research shows:

• School-based programs that include healthy food, nutrition education, physical activity, parent involvement and lessons about food and food systems promote healthy eating and active lifestyles, a key strategy for preventing obesity.
• Poor nutrition during childhood can have lasting effects and impair cognitive development and school performance
• Students often consume up to 50% of their daily calories at school
• Young people today are eating on average 8% more than they were less than 30 years ago
• Nationally, 83% of elementary schools, 97% of middle/junior high schools, and 99% of high schools sell food and beverages through vending machines, school stores, or a la carte in the cafeteria

Studies show physical activity in kids can:

• Improve student's behavior
• Can boost their academic performance
• Recess can improve students' attention and concentration and ability to stay on task.
• Increased time in PE classes can help children's attention and concentration and achievement test scores.
• Short physical activity breaks of about 5 to 20 minutes in the classroom can improve attention span, classroom behavior and achievement tests scores.
• Participation in sports teams and physical activity clubs, often organized by the school and run outside of the regular day, can improve grade point average, school attachment, educational aspirations and the likelihood of graduation.

Despite their contributions to good health and learning, these programs are not in place in most school systems.  (In fact, only Illinois and Massachusetts require P.E. classes for all kids in kindergarten through 12th grade)

Get Involved!

If you have a child in school, are a health educator, a school administrator, a chef, a local farm, HSC is connecting with a wide range of stakeholders to create school environments that promote healthy eating and active lifestyles.  Find more info here:  School Food and Fit Program

Become a member for just $35 per year or volunteer your time and services to help make schools a healthier place.   

Donate - to reinstate recess back into Chicago Public Schools

If you act fast, HSC has asked teachers to submit ideas on how to incorporate health education into the classroom, contest ends September 15.  Click here to submit your idea

Follow HSC on Twitter or on Facebook for the latest updates