It is with great pleasure that I announce that the foundation board of directors of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) has approved a Bryan G. Woodward Community Grant for five Edmond schools to conduct a “Healthy Kids Week with Chef Dave”. The proceeds from the local Walk from Obesity endeavors have helped fund this grant proposal. I received a check yesterday for the amount of $5000.00 to fund “Healthy Kids Weeks” in the Edmond Public School system. Orvis Risner, Cheyenne Middle School, Boulevard Academy, John Ross Elementary & Westfield Elementary are the tentative locations for these events. Edmond Public Schools has given its full support of this initiative.
It is my belief that through awareness of the childhood obesity problem, and by disseminating proper nutritional information to our young students that we can greatly impact not only their education, but their future. For many of our students, the school provides the only guidance on health and nutrition education. Good nutrition is one of the basic needs that greatly impacts students’ concentration and learning.
Last year our “Healthy Kids Week” focused on “Healthy Choices for a Healthy Lifestyle”. Through the help of Chef Dave, the world’s first Bariatric Chef, we were able to provide a week full of activities that focused on healthy choices and nutritional education. Some of our activities included: Schoolwide assembly w/ Nutritional Jeopardy (Facts vs. Fiction)
Essay (Grades 3-5) & Poster Contest (Grades Pre-K-2)
“Healthy Choices for a Healthy Lifestyle”
Cooking Demonstrations & Nutritional Information Presented by Chef Dave
Healthy Luncheon prepared by Orvis Risner Cafeteria under the direction of Chef Dave
Walk-A-thon
Every school’s “Healthy Kids Week” will look a little different depending on the planning at your site, however all schools will be utilizing Chef Dave Fouts. The plight of childhood obesity, you will learn, is near to his heart as you come to know him and his personal story about struggling with weight issues at an early age.
If you would like to help out with these events which will take place in April of 2009, you may contact my office.
Ruthie Rayner