Nestlé, NEA Launch Healthy Steps for Healthy Lives

CHICAGONestlé and the National Education Association Health Information Network (NEA HIN) partnered to create the Healthy Steps for Healthy Lives program that provides free instructional materials that support educators' efforts to teach students in grades K-3 about being healthy. The program will be launched during 2011 NEA Annual Meeting and Representative Assembly in Chicago, June 30-July 2.

Healthy Steps for Healthy Lives originally was created by Nestlé USA in 2005, and is part of the Nestlé Healthy Kids Global Programme, a larger global commitment by Nestle to create shared value through nutrition, health and wellness awareness among school age children.

The program consists of three themesTHINK healthy, EAT healthy and MOVE healthy. The materials incorporate feedback from educators who tested the activities in focus groups and pilot programs in three U.S. schools. The program also helps educators incorporate the revised 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and health education curriculum standards into their lessons.

"Healthy living begins by making smart, informed decisions," said Chavanne Hanson, MPH, RD, LD and Wellness Champion for Nestlé USA. "By joining forces with the NEA HIN, we have taken our passion for nutrition, health and wellness and developed a versatile instructional resource that can help students and their families understand the vital role of nutrition and physical activity in overall well-being."

The 31 lessons cover a variety of subjects from health, math and science to English language arts and social studies. The "My Very Best Day" THINK healthy activity, for example, asks student groups to plan a healthy day full of nutritious meals and physical activity, while emphasizing the importance of eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein. The "Compass Quest" MOVE healthy activity focuses on the importance of hydration through an interactive group discussion.