The County Is Partnering With Radio Woodstock/WDST To Promote The Importance Of Preparing Healthy School Lunches For Students
Woodstock, NY – Ulster County Executive Mike Hein and Commissioner of Health Dr. Carol Smith announce the launching of a healthy school lunch recipe contest with the help of Radio Woodstock/WDST 100.1. The contest is designed to help educate and assist parents and other caregivers in providing their children with healthy, nutritious and delicious lunches to bring to school.
“This contest is a fun way to have parents and kids recognize the importance of preparing a healthy, nutritious lunch,” said County Executive Hein. “Good nutrition along with physical activity are key elements for healthy living, which is why we want to do everything possible to empower parents, children and everyone in our community to pursue a healthier lifestyle, and help to make Ulster County the healthiest County in New York State.”
“Consuming healthy foods at school are part of a comprehensive approach to preventing childhood obesity and the diseases associated with being overweight,” said Dr. Carol Smith, Ulster County Commissioner of Health. “The newly revised United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutritional standards, with respect to meals that are served in school cafeterias, are excellent. We want to encourage parents who prepare their child’s lunch at home to follow the same healthy guidelines. These meals should contain fruit, vegetables, lean meat or other form of protein, and whole grain items. Water or low fat milk should replace sugary beverages. Our healthy lunch campaign is intended to help parents make their child’s lunch tasty as well as nutritious. We want to see every child reach their academic potential and live healthy lives as adults.”
The Healthy School Lunch promotion will be running on Radio Woodstock/WDST throughout the month of September. Area listeners will be encouraged to submit healthy school lunch recipes that meet recommended nutritional guides. The first 100 people who submit qualified entries will receive a Yumbox lunchbox; an eco-friendly, packable lunchbox that helps parents prepare healthier meals with designated compartments for recommended food groups and portion sizes. All qualified entries submitted throughout the promotion will be judged by a celebrity panel of judges and winners will receive gift certificates for the entire family from participating restaurants/merchants.
Promotional details are available on the Ulster County Website at www.UlsterCountyNY.gov, Ulster County Department of Health website at www.UlsterCountyNY.gov/Health and on Radio Woodstock’s website at www.RadioWoodstock.com or http://radiowoodstock.com/healthy_lunch_rules. More information on Yumbox lunchboxes is available at www.YumboxLunch.com.
