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News You Can Use: Traditional Games & Foods
November is a month when many American families reflect on their traditions. Election Day and Veterans' Day bring to mind American traditions, while Thanksgiving helps us remember our country and family. New and old traditionalists may want to check out the Eat Right Montana November 2007 newsletter, which reveals some of the fun and interesting games and foods that native Americans and Montanans have enjoyed over the years. Enjoy! |
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Eating Smart in Frenchtown
Lisa and Marya paid a visit to the lunchroom at Frenchtown Elementary School on October 23rd. The school nurse and kitchen supervisor had noticed that many students were not drinking milk at lunch. Knowing that skim milk and 1% milk are definitely GO foods, and so important for the health of kids' bones and teeth, they've been growing concerned.
Using ideas from the CATCH Eat Smart manual, we decided to promote milk consumption using some fun and easy techniques. During the lunch period, we approached every table in the lunchroom and introduced ourselves. Then we asked questions like, "Who's drinking their milk today?" and "Can anyone tell me why it's important to drink milk at lunch?"
These simple questions lead the kids to instantly open their milk cartons and drink their milk. They immediately raised their hands as they anxiously began to share their knowledge about milk. All of the students who drank their milk received a Hearty Heart or Dynamite Diet sticker to proudly wear on their shirts. Some students who could explain the link between milk and strong bones received special St. Pat's water bottles.
Success! The custodian noticed a drastic reduction in the number of unopened milk cartons that were returned after the lunch period. The kids were excited to demonstrate their nutrition know-how and receive a special prize. And we were able to demonstrate a simple way to reinforce kids' healthy behaviors. This type of promotion and reinforcement is easy for the teachers and lunchroom staff to replicate. With the whole school working together like this, it's just a matter of time before the students will be in the habit of drinking milk at lunch. |
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Annual CATCH Health Fair Save the date! The 2009 CATCH Health Fair at St. Patrick Hospital will take place on Thursday, May 7th and Friday, May 8th for third- and fourth-graders. Watch for invitations in the mail this spring. |
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CATCH-Up Training
If your staff needs a CATCH refresher, please contact Lisa or Marya. We would be happy to visit your school or organization and provide a 2-hour, hands-on training workshop. |
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Newsletter Archives
If you've missed previous editions of the Missoula CATCH Newsletter, fear not! You can always read them in our web archive. Inspire future editions with your photos, stories, and ideas. Send an e-mail to Marya or Lisa, and we will post your information in upcoming newsletters. |
