March 21, 2007

LANSING-Michigan Surgeon General Dr. Kimberlydawn Wisdom visited Henry North Elementary School today to encourage children to consume more fruits and vegetables and promote school-based nutrition improvement programs as part of a statewide launch of the Fruits & Veggies-More Matters campaign.

"We know that when children eat a well-balanced breakfast, they can concentrate better throughout the day, and when they make healthy choices at mealtime and snack time, they have more energy and can be active after school," Wisdom said. "Our children should know that reaching for a piece of fruit or a cup of yogurt at snack time is better for them than reaching for sweets. They should also know why some choices are better than others."

The need to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among Michigan's children is growing each day, as more Michigan youth are overweight when compared to national figures. Overweight children have a higher likelihood of being obese as adults, increasing their risk for several chronic diseases. Research has shown that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables makes a difference in maintaining a healthy weight and can reduce the risk of many diseases.

Also as part of the festivities today, Henry North students were treated to samples of fruit and vegetables and fun activities led by MSU Extension to demonstrate how enjoyable it can be to make healthy choices.

Wisdom also recognized Henry North Elementary School for its innovative efforts to create a healthier school environment and promote fruit and vegetable consumption through its North School Children's Garden. This service-learning project involves students in all phases of the gardening process. The Lansing Food Bank Garden Project has provided North School with assistance with spring tillage, seeds, plants and technical assistance, and North students have shared their harvest with a nearby senior center.

"I am thrilled to shine the spotlight on North Elementary today," said Wisdom. "I hope that this school's outstanding achievements will inspire other schools to duplicate their success."

Following the press conference, Wisdom-joined by Julia Bryce, RN, School Nurse at Henry North School, Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero, Chong-Anna Canfora, Representative for U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Sheryl F. Lowe of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Anne Rauscher of the Lansing Food Bank Garden Project-led a ceremonial groundbreaking for the school's latest health-focused project.

The school recently received a financial boost from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan through its Community Health Initiatives grant program that supports community efforts to reduce childhood obesity. With this funding, the school will build a freestanding greenhouse to expand the gardening experience for students, including raised garden beds for wheelchair users. The school hopes to see increases in the number of students participating in the garden project and the yield of produce available to students, their families and the community, as well as and increased fruit and vegetable consumption and increased interest in gardening.

Fruits & Veggies-More Matters was created to help Americans overcome common everyday barriers to eating fruits and veggies. The national campaign replaces the 5 A Day awareness program and will leverage the 5 A Day heritage and success to further inspire and support consumers to eat more, showcasing the unrivaled combination of great taste, nutrition, abundant variety, and various product forms (fresh, frozen, canned, dried, 100% juice). It also will build upon the body of science that indicates that increased daily consumption of fruits and vegetables may help prevent many chronic diseases.

The Fruits & Veggies-More Matters campaign aligns with Wisdom's Michigan Steps Up healthy lifestyle initiative that promotes healthy eating in addition to physical activity and avoidance of tobacco products and secondhand smoke. The Michigan Steps Up Healthy Schools program encourages schools to form a Coordinated School Health Team, complete the Healthy School Action Tool (which more than 200 school have completed to date), and apply for the Michigan Surgeon General's Healthy School Recognition Program. Wisdom recognized 30 Michigan schools (out of 200 applicants) through this program last year.

For more information about Michigan Steps Up and the Healthy Schools program, visit www.michiganstepsup.org.