HSC School Nurse Training Graduate Helps Kids Make Healthy Choices

By Mark Bishop, Deputy Director

All of us at HSC were excited to see our name mentioned recently in "Slowing Down a Fast Food Nation," an article in The New Lenox Patriot (New Lenox, Ill.). Not only is this a great story about a school nurse taking leadership in promoting healthy behaviors, but it's also about a graduate of our School Nurse Leadership Program! And it's an interesting spin on a problem we are all faced with -- making healthy choices amid a sea of fast food options. The article explains:

As a school nurse in New Lenox School District 122 since 1992, [Marsha] Ridings has seen an increase recently in the number of overweight students, something that became especially apparent when the calculation of children's body mass index became part of their school physicals. She decided to take action, and last week Ridings' "Healthy Choices" program concluded at Spencer Crossing School with a lunch delivery from McDonald's. But there wasn't a Big Mac in sight.

"We made up a menu with all healthy food from McDonald's and had the kids pick items with nutrition in mind," Ridings said. "Fast food restaurants aren't going anywhere and so the goal is for the kids to try something different...

Ridings, who has been the nurse at Spencer Crossing for three years, first came up with the Healthy Choices program after participating in a Healthy Schools Campaign workshop.

And in Marsha's own words...

I was trying to do something that was very inclusive, that did not single out any one group, but rather taught all kids how to eat healthier!  We all need that, right?! . . .  Just because you are thin or normal weight does not mean that you eat a healthy diet or exercise for that matter.  So we need to keep pushing the message - healthy food choices and get moving! We plan to expand this project to our whole district next year!

Great work, Marsha!

Comments

[Amanda]

I love Marsha's point here: just because weight can be an indicator of poor health, it doesn't mean it is the most reliable! All of us need to be reminded to make healthy choices and it's great to see children exposed to healthy food at such a familiar venue!

[Westchester Summer Camp]

Great article. It's also important for kids to be exposed to healthy food and living during the summer at summer camps. So, summer camp nurses can play a huge role in helping a child develop into a healthy individual and get some extra work over the summer in the meantime.