Increasing the number of food and nutrition education programs is always a good thing, especially in schools. Nutrition education has far-reaching and life-long benefits. Kids who participate in a nutrition education program increase their daily consumption of fruit and vegetables and are more likely to make healthier food choices as they get older.
In Mississippi, where nearly 73% of the obese population are children between 10 and 17 years old, increasing food and nutrition education can help create a healthier state. In this article, we’ll take a look at Growing Healthy Waves, a Tupelo-based initiative, focused on boosting food and nutrition education in Tupelo public schools. Read on to learn more!
Growing Healthy Waves, “Wave” being a nod to the local school district mascot “The Golden Wave”, aims to “get kids excited about healthy eating” in more ways than one. Through their partnership with the Mississippi Farm-to-School Program, GHW is able to connect Tupelo public schools to local farms and facilitate activities for students of all grade levels to learn more about where their food comes from. These activities are diverse, hands-on, and involve essential parts of the food system–growing and processing.
Students plant seeds, visit local farms, learn healthy recipes, and cook meals. GHW will also invite educators, such as dietitians or nutritionists, to come to schools and lead cooking demos or share information on healthy eating. GHW’s holistic approach to food education helps students engage and take to heart the lessons learned about maintaining a healthy diet.
We’re proud to spotlight Growing Healthy Waves as an example of how impactful community-focused organizations can be in creating healthier outcomes for our state. Be sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram for updates on their work!
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