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The Great Big Crunch 2009 Media:
Big Crunch, a taste of healthy living
By TYLER KULA
March 6, 2009 The Observer (Lambton county)
About 4,500 Sarnia-Lambton students bought into healthy eating on Thursday by simultaneously — and loudly — biting into apples at exactly 9:30 a.m.
“Last year we had two schools take part. This year we’ve had 14 so we’ve enjoyed a huge success this year,” said Leslie Palimaka, the county’s student nutrition coordinator.
Palimaka was at SCITS Thursday where the entire 825 student body enjoyed apples donated through the Ontario Student Nutrition Program and Food Net from Sarnia Produce.
“We know that March is nutrition month and we typically, with our SCITS wellness club, like to do nutrition-based activities for the month ... so this was a great way to kick that off,” said Karen L’Heureux a teacher and guidance counselor at SCITS.
The wellness club has about 20 members who try to encourage healthy living through guest speakers, anti-bulling pink days, anti-smoking campaigns and other activities.
“We do things to encourage wellness in the mind, body and spirit,” L’Heureux said.
Great Big Crunch encourages students to eat healthy through positive reinforcement, Palimaka said.
“If kids see their peers eating healthy then they want to become part of that. (It’s) an opportunity for every student in the school to share an apple and have a conversation and have some fun.”
There are currently 34 student nutrition programs in Lambton County offering meal and healthy snack programs daily.
