SHAPING THE FUTURE: Schools are at the forefront of the fight to promote healthy choices and reduce childhood obesity | News

TAHLEQUAH – According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in three children between the ages of 10 and 17 in Oklahoma is considered overweight or obese – and those numbers make the state one of the biggest problem areas in the country.

Overweight children are more likely to be obese as adults and may face other health problems such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, joint problems, sleep disorders, certain types of cancer, and mental health problems.

According to the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, lack of access to nutritious food and lack of physical activity are among the factors contributing to obesity.

“Many families face obstacles such as busy schedules or lack of financial resources that can make it difficult for them to maintain a healthy lifestyle,” said TSET Executive Director Julie Bisbee. “Through Shape Your Future, we aim to alleviate some of these burdens. Our resources support Oklahomans who are ready to make small but impactful changes toward a healthier, more balanced life.”

Shape Your Future is a TSET program that provides quick and healthy recipes, household tips and activity guides to encourage families and educators to model healthy choices for their children or students. According to TSET, it is important for adults to model these choices so that children can learn by example.

In a recent press release, TSET said that incorporating new activities, such as regular family walks, can help children stay healthy. It also said habits can be replaced with healthier ones, such as replacing sugary drinks with water.

Local schools also strive to promote healthy eating habits, as many children eat one or more meals at school during the day.

“At TPS, we pride ourselves on modeling and teaching healthy lifestyle choices,” said Tanya Jones, superintendent of Tahlequah Public Schools. “Our healthy cafeteria meals, our high-quality sports programs, health classes, farm-to-school initiatives, school prevention programs and other programs all work together to help all students make healthy lifestyle choices.”

According to Superintendent Vol Woods, Keys Public Schools is taking a comprehensive approach.

“The Keys School District is committed to combating childhood obesity,” said Woods. “We have implemented a nutritious school lunch program that includes more fruits and vegetables and provides more opportunities for physical activity during the school day. We want to enable lifelong wellness for our students by modeling and encouraging healthy habits.”

Teachers often eat what students eat. One of them is Keys kindergarten teacher Winona Green. One day last week, Keys students and staff were given chef salad and pizza pasta for lunch. They also had their choice of fruit and vegetable options, such as broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, oranges, and a salad bar.

“It's good,” said Green. “We always have two options.”

Mary Longmire, director of child nutrition at Hulbert Public Schools, said they have improved food standards by offering balanced meals with fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins.

“Here at Hulbert Schools, we combat childhood obesity by creating an environment that emphasizes healthy choices,” Longmire said. “We aim to reduce childhood obesity rates by promoting lifelong wellness.”

Other steps they take to promote wellness include introducing new foods through a “try it” program, which encourages children to try new foods or foods prepared differently than they may be used to. They also teach students about the importance of nutrition and proper portion sizes to help them make conscious food choices. Students are offered snacks and beverages, but Longmire said they are also served options with little or no sugar to reduce calorie intake.

Learn more

For more information about TSET’s Shape Your Future program, visit www.shapeyourfutureok.com.