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September 18, 2012
Originally published by NJSpotlight The line at Monument Elementary School’s cafeteria was long, but rather than waiting to be served a typical lunch of processed, high-fat food, the students were waiting to grab their lunch from the school’s new salad bar. “I was surprised to see that the kids preferred the fruits and vegetables over the processed food,” said Bernadette Trapp, the school’s principal. “I thought we would have problems getting them to eat it, but they seem willing to try it.” Those eager kids are the beneficiaries of the federal Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which went into effect at the start of the 2012 school year. Read more… SHARE:
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September 17, 2012
Originally published by United Way of Essex and West Hudson United Way of Essex and West Hudson and New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids – Newark to Build and Launch “Born Learning Trail.” United Way of Essex and West Hudson (UWEWH) and New Jersey Partner for Healthy Kids – Newark (NJPHK-N) have announced that they will collaborate in building a “Born Learning Trail” in Nat Turner Park in Newark, New Jersey. The Born Learning Trail will provide 10 self-guiding and engaging, interactive activities that adults can use to create early learning opportunities for children. By following a series of colorful shapes, signs and hopscotch squares, children can learn their numbers and letters through active play. The Trail is a great way for a community to use outdoor space to promote literacy, social development and physical activity. Read more… SHARE:
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September 13, 2012
Flanked by school children, fire fighters, community volunteers, funders and government officials, Principal Bernadette Trapp cut the red ribbons on Monument Elementary School’s new playground and Cool Café on September 12, 2012. The event symbolized a new era of healthy living for the nearly 500 students who now will have better access to healthy foods and opportunities for safe physical activity. NJPHK-Trenton and the Greater Trenton-Area YMCA are major partners in the building and planning of the new playground as a part of the school’s Healthy Initiatives program. Partnerships with NJPHK-Trenton and ARAMARK Food and Nutrition Services, enabled the school to introduce healthier meal options for students. “Monument was chosen as the Healthy Initiatives pilot school because Bernadette Trapp demonstrated genuine interest in the health and welfare of her students and strong determination to find the funding that could create a safe place to play,” said NJPHK-Trenton Project Manager Marissa […]
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August 30, 2012
Originally published by PreventObesity.net For years, teachers and faculty at Monument Elementary School in Trenton, N.J., feared recess. The playground at Monument was nothing more than an empty, broken blacktop, one which the school’s principal described as a “desolate desert.” When the students came back to class they were often bloody and bruised, because their run-down playground simply wasn’t suited for play. All that changed earlier this month, when more than 400 volunteers came together at Monument Elementary School to build a brand-new playground. The build was a culmination of more than a year of fundraising and planning led by a coalition of partners that included the New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids (NJPHK) and the YMCA of Trenton. Read more… SHARE:
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August 30, 2012
Originally published by the Trentonian Young people from the Trenton YMCA work with Chef Dave Nuss from the Childrens Aid Society of New York to prepare healthy food during an event to raise public awareness for the NJ Partnership for Healthy Kids and efforts to prevent childhood obesity Thursday afternoon at North Clinton and Lincoln Avenues. Read more… SHARE:
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August 24, 2012
Donned with fancy aprons and matching chefs hats, eight Trenton students recently brought out their inner culinary skills in a recent Tweet-2- Eat tasting demonstration outside of Monchy’s Bodega on North Clinton Ave. The girls made healthy versions of corn and bean salad, fruit smoothies and cheese quesadillas. They also gave out samples along with healthy recipes to customers who stopped by during the demonstration. “Everything was delicious,” said Marissa Davis, project manager for the NJPHK-Trenton. “Not only did the girls have fun with their newfound culinary skills, but they asked if they could return the following week to cook again.” Monchy’s is one of four stores that have signed up to participate in Trenton’s Healthy Corner Store and Bodega initiative. The goal of the Healthy Store and Bodega initiative is to provide support store owners in offering healthier options including fresh fruits and vegetables. The goal is to increase […]
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August 23, 2012
Until recently, six year old Roberto had never dipped into a public pool or had any swim lessons. However, Roberto and a number of other New Brunswick neighborhood children, along with their parents were able to participate in a six-week swim program this summer every Friday night. Thanks to an agreement between the Raritan YMCA and Rutgers University Cook College, families from PRAB, Unity Square and Mae J. Strong Child Development Center were able to access the University’s pool to learn how to swim during off peak hours. Partnership agreements like these help improve the health of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity, while maximizing resources. “When we work together as a community, we’re empowered to give our children and families more opportunities to be active, and that’s critical to preventing obesity,” said Gina Stravic, President of the Raritan YMCA and Co-director of New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids-New […]
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August 23, 2012
As NJPHK-New Brunswick’s Partnership Coordinator, Dr. Fatimah Williams Castro believes that creating healthy communities is the key to reversing the obesity epidemic. “Children need safe places to walk, bike and play and families need access to fresh foods at affordable prices,” Dr. Williams Castro explains. “My goal for NJPHK-NB is to cultivate a movement that draws on the strength of New Brunswick’s local assets, including community-based organizations and families and the research, corporate, health, and public sectors. Together, we can tackle this epidemic in New Brunswick and keep our kids and their families active and healthy.” Dr. Williams Castro joined the NJPHK-NB in June 2011. She holds a PhD in Cultural Anthropology from Rutgers University. She has contributed to health research with the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and has a background in social movements, law, and urban studies. She spent a number of years in Honduras, Central America where […]
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August 23, 2012
More than 23 million children and teenagers (31.8 percent) ages two to 19 are obese or overweight. “National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month and New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids (NJPHK) recognize the serious threat obesity poses to the health of America’s children and the importance of decreasing its prevalence not only in the state of New Jersey, but across the entire United States,” stated Darrin Anderson, Deputy Director, NJPHK. During the month of September, NJPHK communities will sponsor several activities to promote healthy environments. These events and activities include: Camden—Community playground build day in Northgate Park on October 20th New Brunswick—Community viewing of film written and produced by elementary school students on childhood obesity challenges faced in their community Newark—Community Build Day of a Born Learning Trail in Nat Turner Park on September 26, 27 and 28th Trenton—Ribbon cutting ceremony of first healthy cafeteria created in Trenton at Monument Elementary […]
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August 23, 2012
Courtney Price, NJPHK-Newark Project Manager Recalling one of my favorite books by Roald Dahl, James and the Giant Peach; James is a boy who longs for friends. One day he stumbles across a gigantic peach in a forest behind his house. Throughout the story the peach becomes his fortress inhabited by many who become something he always wanted—friends. The story goes on to end with the pit of the peach becoming the location for James’ mansion found in New York’s Central Park, which was open to all his new friends. If you’ve ever visited Central Park you’ll know how magical a park can be for a child. Some of Newark’s parks can be an exciting FREE trip and “magical” for young children and their families. With many open areas for uninhibited play, pools for swimming or trees for keeping cool, parks can leave a lasting impression on a child and […]
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