Lake Worth Middle School Students Celebrate Healthy Eating and Exercise

Davone Bess, wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins, and the Dairy Council of Florida joined Lake Worth Middle School students on November 24^th to kick off Fuel Up to Play 60 at the school.  The program is provided by the Dairy Council of Florida and the NFL and empowers students to make changes at school that will help them “get active and play” for 60 minutes a day and “fuel up” with critical nutrient-rich foods that are often missing from their diets.

Davone spoke to the students at their gym pep rally about how important it is to eat healthy foods and exercise.  He challenged the kids to get 60 minutes of exercise every day, whether they walk, run, play football or even walk their dog.  Davone also encouraged students to eat the recommended three servings of dairy a day so they can fuel their minds and bodies.  “With the right preparation, you can do anything,” he said.

Because Fuel Up to Play 60 is a youth-led wellness program, every school has a student ambassador team who works with adult leaders in the school to make kid-appealing, nutrient-rich foods like low-fat chocolate milk, yogurt and fruit parfaits and salad bars more available.  They also create opportunities for daily physical activity, such as noon walking clubs and after-school sports and dance clubs.  After the pep rally, Davone met up with this student ambassador team in the media center.  It was a more intimate setting and the students were able to ask one-on-one questions to Davone.  The questions ranged from what he eats in a typical day to how he faced adversity growing up.  Healthy snacks like fruit and yogurt, cheese and crackers and low-fat milk were available to the students and Davone encouraged the kids to stay away from sodas and to pick healthier choices like milk and water.

For more information on Fuel Up to Play 60, visit www.fueluptoplay60.com.