Fuel Up To Play 60 Students Got Game

By: Mary Nicholson

Fuel Up to Play 60, the school wellness program developed by the National Dairy Council and the NFL, is making strides to help students improve their schools? nutrition and physical activity environment.  Fueling up with nutrient-rich foods, such as fat-free and low-fat milk and other dairy products, whole grains, fruits and vegetables in order to be able to ?play? for at least 60 minutes a day is the basis of the program.

There are other fine programs that also address the issue of childhood obesity.  What makes Fuel Up to Play 60 unique is that it is available all across the United States and it also involves all 32 NFL teams!  In Indiana the Colts have partnered with us to make available to middle schools a new program:  ?Fuel Up to Play 60 presented by Blue?.  Blue reiterates the key messages of making healthy food choices and being active for 60 minutes a day in his own fun way with the help of his assistant, Kat.  Several Colts players, cheerleaders, and even Coach Caldwell make an appearance via video clips.

Ten Indiana students who are involved in Fuel Up to Play 60 at their schools got a chance to attend the Sunday night Colts vs Chargers game and even had the opportunity to watch the teams warm up on the sidelines before the game.  They were also introduced to everyone at Lucas Oil Stadium and were shown on the big screens at the stadium.  As the players entered the field for introductions, the Fuel Up to Play 60 students got to cheer them on right next to the Colts Cheerleaders.  What a night it was for those students!

Funding is once again available to Fuel Up to Play 60 schools to help them implement the changes for improved nutrition and more opportunities for physical activity for all students.  Some great things are happening in Indiana?s schools!