Cross posted from the Let's Move! blog.
May 25 was a fabulous day in Dallas as I presented 154 HealthierUS School Challenge awards to schools of the Dallas Independent School District – the greatest number to a single school district thus far. 78 schools received gold awards and another 76 earned bronze level awards. And, Texas leads the nation with 228 out of 1155 schools in 42 states that have earned awards.
As the largest district to meet the challenge, Dallas ISD’s innovative ways of providing healthy lunches and incorporating exercise in their daily routine has set them apart. Thomas A. Edison Middle School students performed a dance routine to Beyonce’s Move Your Body, a song written especially for First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative. Nancy Mosely Elementary students demonstrated a jump rope activity that children could easily do on any playground or at home. Overall, Dallas’ participation and program are so impressive that I gave them two thumbs up!
The Texas Department of Agriculture, Fuel Up to Play 60 and USDA’s own Power Panther joined food service directors, principals and community leaders for the celebration. This broad representation shows that involvement from all sectors of the community is the key to a successful effort. It’s exactly this cooperative effort that the First Lady envisioned when she began Let’s Move! over a year ago. And even more important, feeding kids right and getting them physically active are the fundamentals of our nation’s ability to win the race for the future.
For more information about how you or your school can take part in the HealthierUS School Challenge, visit the Team Nutrition website.
Please follow USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service on Twitter.
