Fuel Up to Play 60 also returns with a new association

By Mary Nicholson

Happy New Year!  We?ve heard that a lot in the first few days of 2011, and what a great time to look at the year ahead with renewed vigor!  But first ? a few activities that happened in December!

Checks were presented to several Indianapolis area schools who applied for funding through Fuel Up to Play 60.  Rosa Parks-Edison Elementary, Greenbriar Elementary, Decatur Middle School, and Garden City Elementary all received visits from Dairy & Nutrition Council staff during December.   There are other schools in Indiana that applied for and received Fuel Up to Play 60 funding, but we weren?t able to visit them.  More to come in January 2011!

Fuel Up to Play 60 also returns with a new association.  Working with the President?s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition (PCFSN) Fuel Up to Play 60 can help students meet the ?Million PALA Challenge? ? that is, one million youth completing the requirements to earn a Presidential Active Lifestyle Award Challenge certificate by September 2011. (Students must complete 60 minutes of physical activity 5 days a week for 6 weeks).  Find out more at: http://www.presidentschallenge.org/.  Sixty minutes of physical activity may sound like a big chunk of time, but it doesn?t have to be.  Activities done during the day all add up!  And the activities don?t have to complicated or highly organized.  Sure, if team sports at school is available and of interest, that?s great!  But if that doesn’t fit your style, there are a lot of things you can do throughout the day to get moving.  Here are just a few suggestions:

Take your dog for a walk (this would assume you have a dog)
See how many jumping jacks you can do, or how far you can skip, or how long you can hoola-hoop.
Start a neighborhood game of tag or kickball
Race a friend to the end of the block and back
If you live where there?s snow, build a snowman
Help your parents with yard work
If you live in a house or apartment building with stairs, see how many times you can go up and down the stairs before you get winded; see if you can do more the next time!

Being active doesn’t have to be difficult or use special or expensive equipment.  It?s more of a mindset to get up and move around ? sweat a little!