HIGH POINT, N.C., Dec. 12, 2014 – High Point University students enrolled in the Nutrition and Healthy Living service learning course dedicated a semester to educating children at the Carl Chavis YMCA childcare center about healthy living.
Every week, HPU students would creatively teach the children how to make healthy choices as well as make them a healthy snack.
“It has enhanced their learning in a sense that they are able to take what they have learned in the classroom and bring it to children that don’t know, or are just beginning to learn about food choices and nutrition,” says Rosemarie Tarara, instructor of health education.
HPU students Chelsea Blanford and Allie Arpante wrote and shared a story about Thanksgiving dinner specifically for these children. They discussed making healthy substitutes when cooking for Thanksgiving, such as trading soda for water, chips for mashed potatoes and donuts for a fruit salad.
After story time, the children enjoyed a healthy snack of grapes, berries, pretzels and bananas.
When asked which food was her favorite, 5-year-old Alana Robertson said, “Bananas, because I just love them. I love all of the foods.”
“The students have really enjoyed being able to work with children within the High Point community,” says Tarara. “This has given them the chance to see a different side of High Point and work with children that they otherwise wouldn’t have met.”