Two years of a school nutrition program and your kiddos could be significantly less likely to become overweight. That's what happened at five Philadelphia schools. No such benefit for kids at five schools that didn't have such programs. Here, four reasons five schools got skinnier.

• Choices. Vending machines were stocked with low-fat, low-calorie snacks, like pretzels, baked chips, and low-fat granola bars. Soda was banned. And kids were encouraged to drink water, 100% fruit juice, and low-fat milk.
• Rewards. Kids who made healthy food choices won raffle tickets and could score prizes like bikes and jump ropes.
• Training. Teachers received 10 hours of training in nutrition education, and students got 50 hours throughout the school year.
• Family. Parents were asked not to send sweet treats to school, and kids were given a 2-1-5 daily challenge: Spend two hours or less watching TV or playing video games, spend an hour or more engaged in physical activity, and eat five or more servings of fruits and veggies.
  

Like what you see? Print this out and take it to our kids' school. See if the powers-that-be can implement some of these healthy practices.

(via Good Housekeeping, September 2008)

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