PATERSON – New Jersey Department of Agriculture Division of Food and Nutrition Director Rose Tricario and New York Jets offensive tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson took part in an informative and fun nutrition education program at Paterson School No. 2 on Wednesday, April 17 – the school’s prize for being one of the past year’s winners of the Eat Right, Move More contest.
The program is a partnership between the Department of Agriculture, the New York Jets and the American Dairy Association & Dairy Council’s Fuel Up to Play 60 campaign, which encourages New Jersey school children to take advantage of healthy foods in their school cafeterias and become more active. This year, the emphasis was on schools that offer breakfast in the classroom. Additionally, school meal menus were reviewed and the schools had to show strong support and demonstrate efforts to improve nutrition and physical activity among their students.
“The Eat Right, Move More program encourages and rewards schools for reaching higher when it comes to nutrition and exercise initiatives for students,” said Tricario. “We are very proud of School No. 2 for its achievements and commitment to making breakfast available to more students on a daily basis.”
The Jets' D'Brickashaw Ferguson discusses how eating healthy at a young age leads to becoming a strong adult. Jesse Linder from the Jets, Rose Tricario and Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly look on.
Earlier this year, New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher and New Jersey Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf urged schools around the state to offer the federally-funded school breakfast after the start of the school day, ensuring them it could be considered instructional time. Since then, many more schools have adopted the program.
This is the seventh year of the Eat Right, Move More Program, with D’Brickashaw Ferguson as spokesman. The campaign features posters of Ferguson in every school telling students, “Your school cafeteria offers a variety of healthy foods and low-fat milk to keep you going all day long. Fuel your mind and body with nutritious foods like Jersey Fresh fruits and vegetables. So, let’s get up and Eat Right, Move More!”
“The Eat Right, Move More has done so much to help improve the health and wellness of students throughout New Jersey,” said Ferguson. “It is such an honor to lend my support to each winning school year after year, especially today for School No. 2 here in Paterson.”
School No. 2 has between and 80 and 90 percent school breakfast participation, offering a hot and cold options and fresh fruits. The school held a six-week nutrition education program for parents through Rutgers to change the way families shop and eat by making healthier choices. During lunch periods, the students are offered a variety of healthier snacks.
“The students are taught in their health classes how diet and exercise are essential for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and fighting against the increase of childhood obesity,” said Felisa Van Liew, School No. 2 Principal. “The food that is prepared for them follows the five basic food groups, which are the building blocks for a healthy diet.”
In addition to nutrition, Van Liew said the school has many extra exercise programs, such as an activity period outside of the physical education classes of cooperative games; Zumba Fitness class held after school once a week for students and staff; and activities through The Alliance for a Healthier Generation.”
The Eat Right, Move More grand prize winner was West New York PS #4, which received a $5,000 kitchen makeover grant and was honored on the field during a Jets game. The other winning schools that will receive visits from Jets players in the coming weeks are: Midstreams Elementary School in Brick Township; George L. Hess Educational Complex in Hamilton; and William B. Cruise #11 School in Passaic.
The New York Jets take great pride in a long-standing, year-round commitment to our community. Programs funded by the New York Jets Foundation touch the lives of countless young men and women in the tri-state area by promoting fitness, health, and education, particularly in disadvantaged communities. Over the past twelve years, the Jets and their charitable foundation have contributed more than $12 million to a wide range of community-based causes.
From fighting childhood obesity through the Eat Right, Move More initiative, to launching a football team at an urban high school, to urging students to be active for at least 60 minutes every day the New York Jets invest in programs that make a difference in the lives of others. In addition to our focus on youth development, the Jets support the efforts of the Alliance for Lupus Research, numerous established charitable organizations and causes sponsored by the NFL.
The Department of Agriculture’s comprehensive school nutrition policy covers pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students. The policy limits fat and sugar content in foods offered in a la carte lines, snack bars and vending machines, school stores and as part of on-campus fund-raisers. More than 687,000 students in both public and private schools participate in the National School Lunch Program, administered by the Department of Agriculture.
For more information about the Department’s school nutrition programs, visit www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/fn/childadult/school.html.
Source: New Jersey Department of Agriculture Division of Food and Nutrition
