Video: Learning About Whole Grains at 186th St. Elementary School

“Make half your grains…”

“WHOLE!” the elementary school students shout, in response to the mentor’s prompt.  

As the mentor continues with her lesson on the importance of whole grains, the students throw their hands in the air, jump out of their seats, and excitedly shout out answers to her questions.

This is the scene after school at 186^th St. Elementary School in Gardena. Through LAUSD’s Healthy Schools Campaign, in partnership with Beyond the Bell Youth Services, the students participate in SOSMentor’s after school program geared toward healthy eating, nutrition, and fitness.  

The children’s enthusiasm is undeniable. Eager to share what they know, they listen attentively to the questions being asked of them and are quick to offer their suggestions. “Cereals that are healthy and have fiber in it” is one student’s recommendation for a breakfast that has plenty of whole grains.  

The nutrition program is great preparation for the Healthy Schools Campaign’s district-wide poster contest, which offers awesome prizes that encourage physical activity: Disneyland tickets for 1^st place (and we all know what great exercise a day at Disneyland provides!), a bicycle for 2^nd place, and a $100 sports gift card for 3^rd place. For more information about the poster contest, click here! 

What Does SOSMentor Have to Do with Jamie Oliver?

On the second episode of celebrity chef Jamie Oliver’s reality TV show, “Food Revolution,” which aired on ABC Tuesday night, the Los Angeles Unified School District remained steadfast in its decision to deny Oliver access to its schools and kitchens.

On the show, Oliver expressed his disappointment and frustration that the LAUSD, which serves a whopping 650,000 meals a day as part of the School Breakfast Program and the National School Lunch program, will not allow him to ask students about the quality of their school lunch.

Oliver did, however, manage to gain access to West Adams Preparatory School, an MLA Partner School that is under a performance contract with LAUSD but whose CEO, Mike McGalliard, is sympathetic to Oliver’s cause.  Working with the Culinary Arts students at West Adams, Oliver learned the heartbreaking story of a 17-year-old student named Sophia, whose mother, father, and younger sister all have type 2 diabetes. As Oliver tried to comfort her and offer his guidance, Sophia expressed her desperation and her concern about her own risk for type 2 diabetes.

Although LAUSD has decided to limit Oliver’s access to its schools, this doesn’t mean students in the district aren’t hearing about proper nutrition and the impact America’s eating habits are having on the childhood obesity epidemic. In fact, LAUSD has partnered with SOSMentor to educate, motivate, and empower students to make healthy food choices and get fit.

The LAUSD Healthy Schools Campaign, a partnership between SOSMentor, Beyond the Bell Branch, LAUSD School Nursing Services, St. Vincent Medical Center, and Newtritious, is bringing nutrition education to over 18,000 students in 700 Los Angeles schools. The effort has been touted by the LAUSD Board as one of its top accomplishments in raising awareness about nutrition and fitness in its schools.  

With the help of teachers, volunteer mentors, and health advocates, the Healthy Schools Campaign is reaching out to students like Sophia and teaching them valuable knowledge about how to lead a healthy life. The students are also taught how to share this information with their parents and peers, thereby spreading these healthy messages throughout the community.

For the time being, LAUSD has chosen nonprofits over TV cameras to spearhead the fight against childhood obesity; but with Jamie Oliver’s show tugging the heartstrings of a national audience, the “Food Revolution” is definitely gaining momentum. 

To learn more about LAUSD Healthy Schools Campaign, click HERE! 

Like Art? Be a Poster Contest Judge!

What is it about kids’ art that makes us feel so good? If you’ve ever received a handmade drawing or art project from a child, you know that something as simple as a page torn out of a coloring book with crayon scribbled outside the lines can be so endearing.

Needless to say, art produced by kids is full of imagination and creativity. It’s an expression of their unique ideas, thoughts, and feelings and can be a powerful instructional tool from which other children can learn. This is the purpose of our LAUSD Healthy Schools Campaign poster contest – to encourage elementary, middle, and high school kids to creatively express a healthy message of their choice (related to nutrition and fitness), thereby teaching others in the process.

If you love kids’ art as much as we do, and believe in its power to address childhood obesity, why not volunteer to be a judge for our district-wide contest? It will only require a few hours of your time the week of May 2^nd and you will get to peruse through the submissions we’ve identified as the cream of the crop. Who knows…you may even come across the work of a future Van Gogh!

Sign up to be a volunteer judge today! You can fill out an application HERE. 

What is Quinoa?

One of the activity worksheets included in our LAUSD Healthy Schools Campaign asks the students to circle the grain items that are whole grains, and quinoa is one of the grains listed.  I quickly came to realize that most of the students and some of the teachers do not know what quinoa is so I thought I would highlight it here.

Quinoa (pronounces keen-wah) is a grain-like crop that originated from South America. The seeds of this plant are the part that is commonly consumed and they are very healthy for us.  Quinoa has a very high protein content and, unlike most plant foods, it is a complete protein.  This means that it contains all of the essential amino acids that our bodies need to function.  Quinoa is a great source of many other nutrients as well.  It is high in fiber which helps lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels, aids in digestion, and helps us feel full so that we don't overeat.  Phosphorus is another important nutrient found in quinoa.  It plays a role in energy production and makes up part of our DNA.  Iron, an important component of red blood cells that helps carry oxygen throughout our bodies is found in quinoa, as well as magnesium which aids in the absorption of calcium and helps prevent diabetes.

Quinoa has a light, fluffy texture and a nutty flavor.  It is very easy to make.  You cook it just like you would cook rice.  It is a very versatile food, as it can be a part of breakfast, lunch or dinner.  

• Just add honey almonds and berries for a nutritious breakfast. 
• Add your favorite vegetables and seasonings to make a delicious stir-fry.  
• Add black beans, corn, cilantro and salsa for a quick dinner.  
• You can find some fun recipes online to make burgers, muffins, salads, etc. 

 So go ahead and take the leap to try this amazing grain.  I guarantee it will not disappoint.

 

Enjoy!

Venice High School Mentor: Aletta Kennedy

Aletta Kennedy believes that the key to solving the health care and obesity crises we currently face is to reach out to “the next generation of adults,” our young people who are still growing and learning every day. She sees great potential for change in our youth, who are often open-minded and receptive to new ways of eating and living.

Born and raised in Hungary, Aletta recently moved to the states from London. Having visited her 13-year-old brother at school, however, she is keenly aware of the challenges American kids face at lunchtime. As a marathon runner and aspiring Registered Dietitian, her goal is to empower kids in the community to adopt a healthier lifestyle. When she found out about SOSMentor and the LAUSD Healthy Schools Campaign, she knew it was the perfect opportunity for her to make a difference.

After just three weeks mentoring at Venice High School, Aletta has seen the impact the program has had on the students. Those who were initially quiet and reserved are now eagerly participating in the class. At Venice High School’s last workshop, students were proud to share the changes they’ve made in their diets – for example, switching to whole grain toast and low-fat milk for breakfast.

It’s these tangible benefits that make mentoring so rewarding for Aletta. In her mind, if she convinces even one child to choose “an apple instead of a Snickers,” her work will have been a success. 

Healthy Schools Campaign Poster Contest

A picture is worth a thousand words! That’s why students in SOSMentor’s LAUSD Healthy Schools Campaign will be creating posters that illustrate healthy messages about nutrition and physical activity. The contest is open to students of all ages – elementary, middle, and high school – all throughout LAUSD.

As educators, we know it’s important to engage students with a variety of different learning styles. Creating a poster is a wonderful way to engage students who are artistically inclined, while supporting visual learning as well. Through the contest, students can share what they’ve learned in the Healthy Schools Campaign with the entire school district.

The contest entry form also includes a “Students Teaching Parents” element, in which students bring the lessons they’ve learned home to their parents. By sharing what they’ve learned with their families, “Students Teaching” Parents builds leadership skills and helps reinforce the program’s healthy messages.

The winners of the elementary, middle, and high school poster contests will be rewarded with fun prizes, including four Disneyland tickets for the 1^st place winners, a bicycle for 2^nd place, and a sports gift card for 3^rd place. The winning entries will also be featured in LAUSD’s 2011-2012 Healthy Schools calendar.

Staying healthy and fit is all about participating in fun activities that make us feel good! Here at SOSMentor, we are encouraging our students to bring healthy messages to life through art and community involvement. 

Who makes the LAUSD Healthy Schools Campaign a success?

When volunteer mentor Leon Scales first started working on SOSMentor’s LAUSD Healthy Schools Campaign, he was shocked to learn how unhealthy some of the kids’ diets were. Some had never eaten salad before; others had never heard of brown rice.

Leon is proud to be part of a program that is turning these trends around. In fact, the students are not only learning about the importance of whole grains, colorful fruits and vegetables, and physical activity…they have even become teachers themselves. The students Leon teaches at Santee Education Complex and Belmont High School have been passing the information on to their parents, younger siblings, and friends.

Every week, volunteer mentors like Leon and school nurses like Vickie Beckwith dedicate one hour to improving the health and livelihoods of LAUSD’s youth. Nurse Vickie’s enthusiasm for the program inspired her to take on two classes at Venice High School. Her ability to relay the information in an interesting, engaging way is what makes her class such a success.

Allissa Johnson, another mentor at Belmont High School, has seen the benefits of healthy eating in her own life and is passionate about sharing these lessons with the kids. She is motivated by the fact that her volunteer work brings long-lasting benefits to their lives.

Thanks to the generosity and dedication of people like Leon, Vickie, and Allissa, SOSMentor is able to confront childhood obesity head-on – and make a real difference, one child at a time. 

LAUSD Healthy Schools Campaign - Belmont High School

The students participating in SOSMentor’s LAUSD Healthy Schools campaign at Belmont High School are learning more and more each week about how to lead happy, healthy lives. The school nurses and volunteer mentors are instilling important values that the students will carry with them far into their adult lives.

Some of the tips shared by Bryant Almendares, a 16-year-old in his junior year, sounded more like advice you would get from a seasoned expert than a young high school student!

Here are 3 of Bryant’s suggestions, which we can all incorporate into our every day lives!

·        Be sure to read nutrition labels. Bryant says many of his friends have no idea what is in their food. Reading nutrition labels allows us to learn this important information, so we can then make the choices that will benefit our health. Knowing what’s in your food is the first step to becoming more health conscious.

·        Cook for yourself at home. Bryant knows that when you eat at home and prepare your own food, you have more control over what goes into your meals. He recommends we treat going out to restaurants as a reward, to be enjoyed on special occasions.

·        Add a colorful fruit or vegetable to your meal whenever possible. For breakfast, Bryant likes to add spinach to his scrambled eggs. He also suggests that kids skip the chips and other snacks, and bring apples from home instead.  

At SOSMentor, we believe it’s important to not only equip our young people with the knowledge they need to have a healthy future, but also to encourage them to share that knowledge with others. Now that Bryant has shared his healthy tips with you, why not pass them on to two other people today?