Nearly 200 kids from three Kenmore-Tonawanda schools "Fueled Up to Play 60" on December 13, 2011 with Bills running back C.J. Spiller in the Bills Healthy Zone Fieldhouse.
Spiller spoke to the students about the importance of nutrition, physical fitness and "Fueling Up to Play 60." Students also participated in various physical fitness activities and received a healthy lunch.
"It was fun to teach the kids the importance of exercise and eating healthy in order to fuel your body properly and maintain energy levels," said Spiller. "I had a great time speaking to and interacting with these kids, and hope that everyone takes these messages about proper nutrition to heart."
*Fuel Up to Play 60 *is part of a national initiative to promote healthy eating and physical activity in partnership with the National Football League (NFL), National Dairy Council (NDC) and National Football League Players Association (NFLPA). The American Dairy Association and Dairy Council has partnered with the Bills to promote nutrition education and increased physical fitness to Kenmore-Tonawanda students as a way of preventing growing rates of childhood obesity through in-school promotions and contests.
Dietetic interns from D'Youville College taught the students how milk makes healthy bones. The students also had fun posing for milk mustache pictures.
"These activities were a perfect blend of physical activity, good nutrition and just plain fun," said Beth Meyer, American Dairy Association & Dairy Council Inc., director of communications. "Having a professional athlete like C.J. Spiller remind kids that strong healthy bones starts with drinking milk, and exercising daily drives the message home like nothing else can. This day was a one-of-a-kind experience these kids and teachers will never forget."
Fuel Up to Play 60 empowers students to make changes at their schools like adding healthier options to school menus and starting physical activity programs like walking clubs. The students participated in six interactive stations that highlighted the benefits of incorporating healthier habits by improving nutrition and physical activity.
One of the schools, Charles Lindbergh Elementary School, earned a Gold Award in the National Healthier U.S. School Challenge (a part of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! campaign). The Healthier US School Challenge (HUSSC) is a voluntary initiative established in 2004 to recognize those schools participating in the National School Lunch Program that have created healthier school environments through promotion of nutrition and physical activity.
For more information, visit www.fns.usda.gov/tn/healthierus/index.html.
