Nutrition Month Ideas for Schools
and Youth-serving Groups | |
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Students at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic School celebrated National Nutrition Month
last March with taste tests
and other activities.
Learn how you can highlight healthy eating this March! |
AHA kicks off the new year with the continuation of its free series of Brains and Bodies Workshops for parents, teachers and school administrators.
Join us for "On the Plate: National Nutrition Month® Activities" plus 2012 Brains and Bodies Award Program information. National Nutrition Month® is national nutrition education and information campaign created annually in March by the American Dietetic Association. This campaign presents schools and other youth-serving organizations with a great opportunity to highlight healthy eating habits! The theme for 2012 is "Get Your Plate in Shape."
WHEN: January 12, 10 am-12 pm
WHERE: Wake County Northern Regional Center, Wake Forest
REGISTER: Free, but pre-registration is required. Register today!
We'll share ideas from St. Mary Magdalene Catholic School in Apex and other creative, fun and inexpensive ways to involve children (and even their families!) in making good nutritional choices during March and all year long!
Connect with other parents, educators and youth leaders at AHA's workshop--share your story, hear their story and exchange ideas about what is working! |
Brains and Bodies Award:
$500 Prizes for Healthy Schools! | |
 The AHA Brains and Bodies Awards program recognizes elementary and middle schools (both public and private) across the county that are going the extra mile to meet and exceed local wellness policies in order to create a healthy school environment.
We are pleased to announce that this year AHA will provide financial awards as follows:
- Gold winners: $500
- Silver winners: $250
- Bronze winners: $100
- Honorable Mention winners: $50
Gold winners also will receive the AHA Brains and Bodies Award: Healthy Students Grow Here banner to to display in their school, and all winners will receive a framed certificate.
Applying for the Award
In order to participate in the 2012 awards program, schools must submit intent to apply for the award by Feb. 1. Only schools that submit intent to apply will have access to the online award application this year. Applications are due March 1, and winners will be announced May 30.
Any school that submits intent to apply by Jan. 12 will receive an email with a link to the award application on Jan. 12. Schools that submit intent to apply between Jan. 12 and Feb. 1 will receive an email within one business day.
Award Information Session
AHA will share information about the award program on Jan. 12 at the Brains and Bodies Workshop in Wake Forest. We strongly encourage schools that wish to apply for the award to attend the workshop; register here.
Additional information about the awards program is available on this information sheet and at AHA's web site. |
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Local Foods: Next Steps and
Dig In on March 10! |
 More than 110 farmers, chefs, caterers, food entrepreneurs, businesses, child care providers, health care professionals and others joined together last month for AHA's workshop: "Connecting the Dots: Creating a Local Food System in Wake County."
Summaries of each of the four breakouts are provided here, and a common thread among them is the need for some sort of online system that would benefit both farmers and those procuring local foods in an efficient way. AHA's Local Foods & Community Gardens Work Group will work toward this end, and those who participated in the Micro-enterprises break-out group have created a listserv and are holding meetings to move ahead. If you are interested in being part of this work through AHA's Local Foods Work Group and/or the Microenterprises group, please contact Michele McKinley.
AHA's Local Foods & Community Gardens Work Group meets again on Jan. 10.
Save the Date: Dig In! AHA will host its third annual Dig In! community garden summit on March 10 at Marbles Kids Museum in Raleigh. Stay tuned for agenda and registration details! |
| Farewell from Laura Aiken | |
I would like to take this opportunity to let you know that I have accepted a promotion at WakeMed to become the Director of Regional Community Relations beginning December 19th. It has truly been an honor to serve our community through AHA since the beginning. I am extremely proud of the accomplishments that have been made through collaboration and partnership to make Wake County a healthier place to live. There is no doubt that AHA will move the needle on the obesity epidemic that is facing our community, state, and country.
I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported AHA, especially our Executive Committee and Project Coordinator, Michele McKinley. I wish the collaborative continued success in this new chapter, and look forward to my continued engagement in advocacy for the issues important to AHA. Stay tuned for more information as we identify the new director!
With Gratitude,
Laura |
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 AHA fosters and supports community efforts to make healthy eating and physical activity the way of life in Wake County. Simply put, we are working to make the healthy choice the easy choice!
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AHA Partners
in the Spotlight:
Highlights from 2011 | | |
Before we ring in the new year, let's take a look back at some of the successes a few AHA partners have had a key role in during 2011! From 14-year-old Essence Lee's healthy lifestyle change to more miles than ever of free greenways across the county, there are numerous great 2011 stories to share!
AHA Partners:
Who are they? |
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AHA Work Groups | |
Being part of an AHA work group is a great way to put health into action here in Wake County--where you live and work!
- Community Connections
- Engagement & Inclusion
- Local Foods & Community Gardens
- Public Relations
- Western Wake AHA (Cary, Morrisville, Apex and further west!)
Work groups typically meet once a month. Check out these brief descriptions of the work groups, see the calendar for meeting dates/times or email Michele McKinley with any questions. |
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AHA friends and tweets!
Join our social networks for timely updates on AHA news, healthy eating and being active here in Wake County!
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