For some students, heart disease may seem like an affliction of their parents or grandparents, but it is never too early to start talking about ways to keep your heart healthy. In the school-based health setting, there are many ways to promote heart health that are relevant, interesting, and FUN for students! Try focusing on this key phrase:

Eat Healthy (energy in),
Move More (energy out)

But how can you incorporate that message into your work? The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has great resources for children and adolescents through the We Can! (Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity & Nutrition) Program. These include:

• Healthy activity family pledges;
• “Go, Slow, Whoa!” food recipes, games, presentations, and infographics; as well as
• Curricula for varying age groups.

Many of these resources are great for parents to use with their children outside of a healthcare setting, too, so consider sharing these tools at Parent Nights or PTA-sponsored events. SPS also has tools for student health champions to promote healthier policies in their schools, including eliminating unhealthy sale and competitive foods. School-based
health center staff and school nurses at Van Asselt Elementary had success last year in developing a school wellness committee and making headway in implementing healthier policies. How are your schools doing with this and how can we help?

For additional ideas on how to form wellness committees and implement SPS’ sale and competitive food policy, contact Kaetlin Miller at kaetlin.miller@kingcounty.gov.