Schools
New Ossining Program Teaches Students about Health and Wellness
The district is partnering with Blythedale Children's Hospital to bring the "Eat Well, Be Well" program to Roosevelt School.
A new community partnership is bringing Blythedale Children’s Hospital and the Kohl’s “Eat Well, Be Well” program to fifth-graders in Ossining.
The first of two six-week afterschool sessions began Feb. 27. That afternoon, registered dietitian Marie Roth of Blythedale gave each student a healthy snack of carrots and hummus. Most of them had never eaten the spread before, but a few tried it. Others just nibbled on the carrots or declined the snack.
As they ate, Roth reviewed healthy eating and lifestyle habits – such as eating five fruits and vegetables and exercising 60 minutes a day, and getting 10 to 12 hours of sleep a night.
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She played a song and gave everyone a chance to come up with a dance move for classmates to imitate. When they finished and were out of breath, Roth explained that the heart works harder when people exercise because it is delivering oxygen, nutrients and blood to muscles.
“You get one body, right? This is your house,” she said. “You only get one house. You’ve got to take good care of it.”
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Student Lailani Walker said one way to take care of yourself is to limit unhealthy food. “Eating so much junk will make your body lazy and you’re not going to be able to exercise,” she said.
Social worker Nicole Nardizzi of Village Therapy Group in Briarcliff Manor, a mindfulness-based stress-reduction instructor, introduced them to yoga, mindful breathing and mindful listening. When students are active, their mind goes everywhere, such as what homework they have or what they will eat for dinner. With yoga and mindful movement “we’re going to be paying attention to how it feels in your body when your body moves,” she said.
“Remember, it’s cool to be calm because you can make better decisions and enjoy life a little more,” said Nardizzi, who is partnering with “Eat Well, Be Well” for the Roosevelt program.
After the yoga and mindfulness session, student Luis Flores said he was enjoying himself and learning. “It’s good because it helps me release my stress,” he said. “They taught me to breathe in and breathe out when I’m stressed.”
“Eat Well, Be Well,” which is funded by Kohl’s, has reached more than 100,000 children in the greater metropolitan region since 2006.
