Project Healthy Schools

Yesterday I spent pretty much the entire day driving around Ypsilanti Public Schools. It was SO incredibly hot, but very worthwhile.


Project Healthy Schools (PHS) is a health and wellness initiative for local Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti schools, aiming to improve their overall outlook on healthy diet and exercise. Yesterday started off by visiting Ypsilanti Middle School, where we promoted asparagus. They had asparagus they had on the hot lunch line was baked with some salt and (lots) of pepper. It was pretty good! We also put the informational fliers that I made on the tables, as well as went around with samples for all students to try. It was really fun encouraging kids to try new foods. Some really liked it, some said it was ok, some hated it, and some wouldn't even look me in the eye. It was awesome being around kids and having them be interested in a new food, or at least being more aware of what it is.


After that, we went to a local high school to do a screening of a student. With PHS, there have been a handful of published studies on the program, and whether or not it makes a long term effect. This student had been exposed to PHS when he was in middle school and now MHealthy staff members are following him, every year completing a survey. The survey includes data such as height, weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose, and a lifestyle questionnaire. They take his and thousands of other student's information and compare it to students who weren't involved in PHS, to see if it makes any difference.


After the high school, we stopped at an Ann Arbor elementary school to drop off informational booklets to a teacher who is getting more involved with the administrative side of PHS.


So, needless to say it was a very long day on that aspect. Not to mention it felt like 100 degrees outside.
So after PHS later in the evening, I attended a MHealthy Weight Management class for adults. The class I attended was all about rearranging self-talk from negative into positive, and how it can change the overall outcome. 


Today's weather is supposed to be even worse. But luckily I'm not doing much traveling and will be spending the morning with one-on-one MHealthy counseling. More on that later...


22 days until graduation.
25 days until my birthday.
26 days until I start my new job!