OSU-Lima offers health program to elementary schools

LIMA - What curious child wouldn't want to crawl into a "stomach" to see what happens to that apple they ate yesterday.

Pupils around Allen County are getting the chance through an OSU-Lima outreach program geared toward teaching elementary school pupils how to make healthy choices.

The simulated "stomach" is the first activity of the 18-week "Give Me Five" program offered to first- and third-grade classrooms.

Brittany Collier-Gibson, OSU-Lima director of education outreach, said nutrition and living healthier are sometimes cut from school curriculums because of other mandated things and a lack of time.

"Yet we have a real problem with childhood obesity," she said. "The program does have a good punch. It is something different and events are memorable to them."

This is the second year of the program, funded this year by the Allen County Health Department and St. Rita's Medical Center. It is a collaboration also with OSU extension and the Girl Scouts of Appleseed Ridge.

In between larger events like the "stomach, visits from a dietician and other fun activities, teachers are supplied with a handbook including resources and activity suggestions. There are also incentives, including tickets to Farm Discovery Day or a gift certificate to pay for a healthy classroom party.

The idea, Collier-Gibson said, is for the teacher to do something for five minutes each day. An activity might include a song about the five food groups or other quick exercises.

"It is all right there for them," she said of the handbook. "They can do them while waiting in line for lunch or recess. It's real easy to squeeze in."

Forty-nine classrooms took part in the program last year, but OSU-Lima is hoping to keep reaching more this year. Teachers interested in the free program can contact Melinda Viney at 419-995-8064 or at viney.17@osu.edu.

The program will hold a Family Fun Night at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the YMCA. Open to elementary school pupils and their families, participants will rotate through different stations, including the "stomach" and a session on how to make healthy snacks. Each family will leave with a gift bag. Reservations are preferred by calling the YMCA at 419-223-6045.