PHILADELPHIA – Philadelphia Eagles mascot SWOOP and former offensive tackle Tra Thomas hosted a Philadelphia Eagles Fuel Up to Play 60 skills clinic at the Philadelphia Eagles NovaCare Complex today to reward students for their participation in Fuel Up to Play 60, a youth-led nutrition and fitness initiative aimed at tackling childhood obesity.
Fuel Up to Play 60 is a program created by National Dairy Council and the National Football League that empowers students to make changes at school that will help them be active for 60 minutes daily and fuel up with nutrient-rich foods missing from their diets. The program is sponsored locally by Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association, a regional affiliate of National Dairy Council.
Students from eight area schools, including Kingsway Regional Middle School, Woolwich Township, N.J.; Joseph Greenberg School, Philadelphia; John Wister Elementary, Philadelphia; Albert M. Greenfield, Philadelphia; Tohickon Middle School, Doylestown, Pa.; Pottsgrove Middle School, Pottstown, Pa.; St. Peter and Paul, West Chester, Pa.; and Anna B Day, Philadelphia, participated in the clinic as a reward for their leadership in encouraging their classmates to join the Fuel Up to Play 60 program.
At the start of the clinic, Tra Thomas led the approximately 100 students through stretching exercises while talking about the importance of physical activity and healthy eating, including lowfat and fat-free dairy, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats.
Thomas’ message was followed by dairy farmers Holly Sollenberger, Spring City, Pa., and David Cadwallader, Salem, N.J., who spoke about life on their dairy farms. The students asked an array of questions, such as “How long does it take to milk a cow?” and “What is your favorite job on the farm?”
Afterwards, students rotated through five fitness stations, including a nutrition station where Registered Dietitian Althea Zanecosky of Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association spoke about healthy eating and the importance of refueling with chocolate milk. The students spent 10 minutes at each fitness station: Nutrition Relay, Wide Receiver Challenge, Field Goal Station, Quarterback and Obstacle Course. At the end of the clinic, students enjoyed a healthy snack that included low-fat chocolate milk and a cheese stick.
“Our students were excited to have the opportunity to ‘workout like pros’ at the Eagles practice facility,” said Marilyn Eaton, health and physical education teacher at Pottsgrove Middle School. “They have worked hard this year spreading the message about healthy, active lifestyles through Fuel Up to Play 60 and were able to run through football skill drills just like their favorite players.”
The youth-led program empowers children and teens to take charge of their health and work with school leaders to create more opportunities for 60 minutes of daily physical activity and to make available more healthy foods. Since more than 50 percent of a student’s daily calories are consumed at school, the school environment is an ideal setting for teaching these healthy behaviors so they become lifelong habits.
Fuel Up to Play 60 builds upon existing National Football League and National Dairy Council programs, including NFL PLAY 60: The NFL Movement for an Active Generation, which encourages kids and their families to “get up and play an hour a day.” Fuel Up to Play 60 is based on the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which recommends consumption of nutrient-rich foods (such as low-fat and fat-free dairy, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats) and 60 minutes of physical activity a day. Learn more at www.FuelUpToPlay60.com or www.FuelUpToPlay60mediaresources.com.
Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association and Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program, affiliates of National Dairy Council®, provide nutrition education programs and services to schools in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Source: Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association
