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Addressing
Obesity One Child
at a Time
Surveys recognize that
field trips increase children's
nutrition knowledge.
(ARA)
- Typical lunch beverages
for kids can range
from juice boxes to
soda. But for Angie
Clark's first grade
class of 20, a field
trip to the local grocery
store inspired her
students to make a
healthier choice by
drinking white milk.
Clark took her students to the Lowes Foods grocery store in Siler City, North
Carolina for an educational field trip to introduce them to experience-based
lessons on nutrition and healthy eating.
"After the field trip, I made it a challenge to see how many kids could drink
white milk," Clark says. "I had six students drink white milk at lunch the day
of the field trip when I normally only had one or two."
Clark is just one of the many teachers who agree that experience-based learning
has a positive impact on children. Surveys completed by Field Trip Factory
-- a company that provides free educational field trips in the community --
reveal that nutrition education field trips aid in children's understanding
of leading healthy lifestyles.
Eighty-five percent of teachers surveyed stated that their students are more
aware of healthier food choices after taking a nutrition education field trip.
Another 84 percent believe their students are more aware of why it is important
to be healthy and fit and have gained a better understanding of nutrition.
The United States Surgeon General has stated that 25 percent of America's children
are overweight or obese, encouraging educators and companies to take the responsibility
of relaying nutritional lessons to our youth.
Grocers have recognized the need for nutrition education among youth-based
groups through in-store, experience-based field trips. These trips teach children
the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle by providing them with lessons
pertaining to meal choices, food groups and fitness.
"I think healthy eating is an area that needs more in-depth instruction in our
curriculum," Clark says. "While they are at school, we have to teach them these
healthy choices, especially to address obesity."
Field Trip Factory anticipates over 12,000 nutrition education field trips
will be taken to local grocers during the 2004-2005 school year at the following
locations: A&P; Albertsons; Copps; Dominick's; Fry's; Giant Eagle; H-E-B;
Lowes Foods; Pick'n Save; Rainbow Foods; SaveRite; Shaw's; Star Market; Strack & Van
Til; Town & Country; Ultra Foods; Waldbaum's; Wild Oats; and Winn-Dixie.
For more information about field trips in your community, contact Field Trip
Factory at (800) 987-6409 or online at www.fieldtripfactory.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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