Nutrition

                              Nutrition Project
                              by Jenny Ovide
                  Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare 
                        Community Health Nurse 

With all the talk about healthy lifestyles being the best way we can improve quality of  life and avoid chronic illness, MTEF has decided to try to address the issue of obesity, healthy food choices, and the need for daily exercise as part of its 2009 tennis program at Sherman Park and Kosciuszko. 

I am excited to be joining the team and have designed a series of programs that I believe will address how families can actually set out to achieve the goal of adopting a healthy lifestyle.

The initial program at Sherman Park will teach children interested in playing tennis the importance of fitness and nutrition with a well balanced agenda of exercise, health education and of course…FUN!!!

The young tennis players will have daily rotations through learning modules that include tennis, working on flexibility, as well as academic sessions focused on fitness, nutrition and health.

New to the program this year will be actual stops at the ten new exercise stations that were recently installed in the Park. The children will be exercising at these stations every day.

 

One of the most critical parts of the program will include three family sessions in the evening where parents can come and learn the best way to apply, right at home, what the children are learning in their daily sessions.

Because I am a Community Health Nurse from Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, St. Joseph, with a specialty in nutrition education and behavior change, parents will have the opportunity to learn and ask questions. Topics will include useful information such as grocery shopping tips, healthy food choices, and ways to combat childhood obesity.

This exciting program combines professionals and community organizations that are invested in the health of our children and families. MTEF has as its 2009 goal to help children strive ti implement a healthy lifestyle which is one important way to insure their futures as healthy adults who play tennis for exercise.