According to Adrienne Youdim, contributing writer to THE HILL, being a healthy child includes educating that child on proper nutrition and physical activity in order to grow into healthy adults. Poor nutrition and obesity continue to be a problem in the United States.  In fact, the most recent reports indicate that 12.7-million, or 17 percent of our children, ages 2-19, are obese. Unfortunately, despite these alarming statistics, formal health education in schools does not include basic nutrition. The Mason County Nutrition Education Program Assistant partnered with the Mason County Intermediate School gym teacher to address nutrition by teaching the YUMMY curriculum along with physical education.  Food group relay races were held, in which student run to place the food in the proper food group, then run back and tap the next person in line.  Groups compete to be the winning group.  At the end of the race, each food group is discussed and why that food was placed in that particular group.  Making better beverage choices was also addressed including how much sugar is in beverages.  Another lesson on food safety addressed the importance of hand washing.  Glo-germ and hand sanitizer with glitter were used to show how germs spread to reinforce the importance of hand washing.

As a result of these lessons, 43% of the intermediate students improved their responses of less fruit flavored and sports drinks (several students stated that they would not be drinking fruit flavored drinks any longer after viewing how much sugar raspberry lemonade contains); 89% improved their ability to choose healthier foods; 58% use safe food handling practices; and 44% improved their physical activity practices.