Network for a Healthy California (Network) is hosting its Second Annual Employee Wellness Challenge and the Monrovia Unified School District is participating.  It’s a way of promoting the wellness of students, staff and families in the community. The kickoff took place on January 11, and the goal of this 10-week challenge is to improve overall eating and exercise habits by encouraging increased fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity. I love the idea behind this. I wish I could adapt the Wellness Challenge at work. Unfortunately, as a writer I only have my dog to hold me accountable.

Each employee that participates is encouraged to consume 3.5 cups of fruits and vegetables and be active for at least 30 minutes each day. I have a feeling the employees will be up to the challenge, considering that last year the Monrovia Unified School District won the Governor’s Award for Physical Fitness and Health for their programs promoting healthy lifestyle. The school that wins the Employee Wellness Challenge at the end of 10 weeks receives a free bootcamp certificate.

Pasadena Star-News spoke with those involved with the program:

“This is about setting the example of a healthy culture in students and trying to encourage district employees to be role models,” said Lizett Olivares, a registered dietician with the Network for a Healthy California in Monrovia Unified.

Valerie Parsons, a health and nutrition coordinator, said, “Some teachers are having their students track the number of fruit and vegetable servings they have for one week.” She added that cultivating teachers and other school site personnel as fitness role models will encourage students adopt a healthy lifestyle

To read the full article, click here.

About Network for a Healthy Challenge

The Network represents a statewide movement of organizations collectively working toward improving the health status of low-income Californians through increased fruit and vegetable consumption and daily physical activity.  Multiple venues are used to facilitate behavior change in the homes, schools, worksites, and communities of low-income Californians to create environments that support fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity. Click here for more information.

Photo Courtesy of m_bartosch and FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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