Fuel Up to Play 60
The National Dairy Council (NDC) and National Football League (NFL) are helping schools across the country score big with Fuel Up to Play 60, a program to tackle childhood obesity by giving youths a voice in changing the school nutrition and physical activity environment. Fuel Up to Play 60 is a proactive response to the growing obesity epidemic and declining physical fitness of America’s youth. The national program will reach 36 million youths in 60,000 elementary, middle and high schools during the 2009/2010 school year.
Fuel Up to Play 60 combines the excitement of the NFL with challenges and rewards that inspire kids to get active and eat well. Students and schools work together to expand opportunities for physical activity and increase availability of more kid-appealing, good-tasting, nutrient-rich foods, such as low-fat chocolate milk, yogurt and fruit parfaits, whole-grain pasta and salad bars.
Fuel Up to Play 60 empowers students to get involved to make real changes in their schools. This program reaches youth directly and engages their help in leading and inspiring their friends to do the same. Students and educators work together to make changes at school that will help them ”get active and play” for 60 minutes daily and “fuel up” with critical nutrient-rich foods.
Fuel Up to Play 60 builds upon the NFL PLAY 60: The NFL Movement for an Active Generation, which encourages kids and their families to “get up and play an hour a day.” Fuel Up to Play 60 is based on the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. More information about NFL Play 60 and the 2005 Dietary Guidelines is available at www.nflrush.com and www.mypyramid.gov.
For more than 90 years, the National Dairy Council has offered research and nutrition education programs in schools with a commitment to providing leadership in the fight against poor nutrition, inactivity and obesity among our nation’s youth.
USDA Joins Fuel Up to Play 60 Program
The USDA joined the Fuel Up to Play 60 program on January, 15 and will help combat childhood obesity in cooperation with the NFL and National Dairy Council. The organizations held a kickoff event at a New York City public school to support and promote the initiative. Click here to read more.
School Contests
Eat Healthy, Get Active, Make a Difference, Wellness Contest
The Dairy Council of Florida is keeping score of school wellness at over 3,600 Florida schools! By using the Fuel Up To Play 60 program from the Dairy Council and the National Football League, Florida schools can win wellness grants by planning activities that encourage students and staff to get healthy. Click here for more information.
Fuel Up to Play 60 Every Day Essay Contest
The Dairy Council of Florida teamed up with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Miami Dolphins to help kids stay healthy by educating them about the importance of good nutrition and physical activity. The Dairy Council of Florida sponsored an essay contest for fourth-grade students. For more information, including winnners, click here.
Fuel Up to Play 60 Pilot Schools:
National Fuel Up to Play 60 Competition (2009-2010)
National Student Winner- Accel Castillo, an eighth-grader from Palm Springs Middle School, has taken the top individual honor for the inaugural Fuel Up to Play 60 competition, beating 198,825 peers from around the country.
State of Florida School Winner- Bay Point Middle School in St. Petersburg was honored for making a significant difference in the wellness of its students.
School Activity (2009-2010)
Yulee Elementary School- Jacksonville Jaguars mascot Jaxson de Ville joined the Dairy Council on site to honor essay winners at an hour-long school-wide assembly.
Seminole Middle School- The Dairy Council of Florida joined Tampa Bay Buccaneer mascot and cheerleaders at Seminole Middle School to help students kick off the restart of Fuel Up to Play 60.
Bay Point Middle School- Bay Point Middle School students’ “Fuel Up to Play 60” team served as program ambassadors at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ home game against the New York Jets on Dec. 13.
Lake Worth Middle School- Davone Bess, wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins, and the Dairy Council of Florida joined Lake Worth Middle School students on November 24th to kick off Fuel Up to Play 60 at the school.
Pinellas Park Middle School- Tampa Bay Buccaneer Michael Clayton and the Dairy Council of Florida joined Pinellas Park Middle School students on November 17th to kick off Fuel Up to Play 60 at the school.
Dan Nolan Middle School- Former Tampa Bay Buccaneer All-Pro Derrick Brooks and the Dairy Council of Florida joined R. Dan Nolan Middle School students Tuesday, November 3rd at a rally kicking off Fuel Up to Play 60.
Hear What Schools Have to Say About Fuel Up to Play 60
In the Community
Hometown Huddle- The Dairy Council of Florida had the opportunity to work with 200 students from the after-school program at Matthew Gilbert Middle School on Oct. 6 and educate them about the importance of a healthy diet and at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day.
Smile Mile- Tampa Bay Buccaneer cheerleaders and linebacker Quincy Black joined the Dairy Council of Florida at the Smile Mile race on Feb. 13 to speak to local students about Fuel Up to Play 60.
Visit www.fueluptoplay60.com for tips, tools and techniques to help your school Eat Healthy and Play 60.
© 2010 National Dairy Council ® Fuel Up is a service mark of National Dairy Council
© 2010 NFL Properties LLC. All NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. © 2010 Dairy Council of Florida.
