25 schools represented at Fuel Up to Play 60 Reward Summit
More than 115 elementary and middle school students from throughout Iowa gathered April 21, 2015 for a nutrition and NFL-themed reward summit at Iowa State University as a reward for their efforts to eat healthy foods and stay active.The student teams earned invitations to the April 21 Fuel Up to Play 60 Reward Summit by actively engaging in the Fuel Up to Play 60 program in their schools. Student leaders encourage their peers to make healthier nutritional choices and commit to at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day. Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by National Dairy Council, Midwest Dairy Council and the NFL in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture.
At the event, participants also helped celebrate Iowa dairy farmers' 100-year commitment to the health and well-being of America's children and adults. Dairy farmers created the National Dairy Council in 1915 to provide nutrition research and education. Over the past century, the organization has continued to take a leading role in community and school health and wellness by creating and supporting important programs such as Fuel Up to Play 60.
The teams that attended the summit represented the following Iowa schools:
Northview Middle School
Ankeny Prairie Ridge Middle School
Ankeny Southview Middle School
Ankeny Nixon Elementary School
Cedar Rapids Brubaker Elementary School
Des Moines Callanan Middle School
Des Moines Edmunds Elementary School
Des Moines Howe Elementary School
Des Moines Merrill Middle School
Des Moines Audubon Elementary School
Dubuque Bryant Elementary School
Dubuque George Washington Middle School
Dubuque Table Mound Elementary School
Dubuque Bohumil Shimek Elementary School
Iowa City Buford Garner Elementary School
Iowa City Ernest Horn Elementary School
Iowa City Grant Wood Elementary School
Iowa City Horace Mann Elementary School
Iowa City James Van Allen Elementary School
Iowa City Lincoln Elementary School
Iowa City North Central Jr High School
Iowa City Northwest Jr High School
Iowa City Penn Elementary School
Iowa City Southeast Jr High School
Iowa City Waverly-Shell Rock Middle School
Waverly-Shell Rock
"We were happy to reward the students who have been active in the Fuel Up to Play 60 program with this event," said Vice President of Health and Wellness Melissa Young of Midwest Dairy Council. "It was especially fulfilling to have them celebrate their accomplishments alongside dairy farmers at the event, marking 100 years of focusing on nutrition education in our schools and communities. We hope the enthusiasm and excitement generated at the Reward Summit stays with these students as they continue to serve as health and wellness role models for their peers."
Students participated in a variety of nutrition and physical activity sessions including: a series of football drills, healthy eating activities and an interactive dairy farming education session. The students also interacted with Kansas City Chiefs Mascot K.C. Wolf and Iowa State University Mascot Cy the Cyclone, Iowa State Dairy Princess Mikayla Lien and Iowa State Dairy Princess Alternate Rylie Pflughaupt, Iowa State University football players and Iowa State University/NFL Alumni player J.J. Moses, who explained how healthy eating and staying active helped prepare him for a career in the NFL and participated in football drills with students. Each student also took the time to thank the dairy farmers who help make the Fuel Up to Play 60 program possible.
Midwest Dairy Council®, an affiliate of National Dairy Council, is the nutrition education division of Midwest Dairy Association. The Council is dedicated to dairy nutrition research and education through the investment of 8,000 dairy farm families across 10 Midwestern states, and is committed to child health and wellness through our collaborative program, Fuel Up to Play 60. For more information, visit www.midwestdairy.com. Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook at Midwest Dairy.About National Dairy Council
National Dairy Council (NDC), the non-profit organization funded by the national dairy checkoff program, is committed to nutrition education and research-based communications. NDC provides science-based nutrition information to, and in collaboration with, a variety of stakeholders committed to fostering a healthier nation, including health professionals, educators, school nutrition directors, academia, industry, consumers and media. Established in 1915, NDC comprises a staff of registered dietitians and nutrition research and communications experts across the country. NDC has taken a leadership role in promoting child health and wellness through programs such as Fuel Up to Play 60. Developed by NDC and the National Football League (NFL), Fuel Up to Play 60 encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. For more information, visit www.NationalDairyCouncil.org.
About Fuel Up to Play 60 Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by National Football League (NFL) and National Dairy Council (NDC), which was founded by America's dairy farmers, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods (low-fat and fat-free dairy, fruits, vegetables and whole grains) and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. As a result of the program, last year more than 13 million students made better food choices by selecting nutritious options like low-fat and fat-free dairy products, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Additionally, nearly 16 million students are getting more physically active during the school day.
Fuel Up to Play 60 is designed to engage and empower youth to take action for their own health by implementing long-term, positive changes for themselves and their schools. Customizable and non-prescriptive program components are grounded in research with youth, including tools and resources, in-school promotional materials, a website and student contests. Visit FuelUpToPlay60.com to learn more.
4.23.2015