Around the Regions

St. John's Heart Health Coalition

School Milk Foundation and Heart Health: The Links

The School Milk Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador is the organization that provides milk to students in grades K- 12 in our provincial schools. Their slogan, "School Milk, Gotta Get It" can be found on their printed resources and prizes. The Foundation is pleased to say that 10 years after its introduction into the schools, overall provincial milk consumption has risen from 48L to 60L per person per year. There is still a long way to go to reach 1 serving of milk (250mL/8oz) per person per day, but it's encouraging to know that healthy eating practices can be changed over the long term when we work together with children and their families.

Last winter, through the association between the School Milk Foundation and the St. John's Heart Health Coalition, a link to the Kick the Nic Program was established. As an incentive to the students taking part in this smoking cessation program, milk is offered during the lunch time sessions. The program facilitators received many positive comments from students about including the milk. The St. John's Heart Health Coalition will continue this liaison and will also include a small piece of nutrition information for the student participants.

The St. John's Heart Health Coalition has also linked with the Parks and Recreation Association's Healthy Active Living Express. This program-on-wheels provides active living experiences to children throughout the province during the summer holidays. The School Milk Foundation contributed to the healthy eating segment of the program by providing free milk and some prizes. Feedback indicates that the cow mascot and the cool fresh milk were well received.

Did moo know?

You can get almost all the calcium your body needs every day with just 3 servings from the Milk Products group. For example, hot chocolate or cereal with milk for breakfast, school milk at recess and/or lunch and a glass of milk or piece of cheddar cheese for a snack. Active people and teenagers would need another serving each day.

How about a glass of milk with dinner?

New Contacts and Activities for Ticker Tom

Ticker Tom's messages were heard louder and farther than ever in the summer of 2001! Healthy heart games were played from Pouch Cove to Trepassey and everywhere in between! Over 165 recreation leaders and 800 children learned all about eating healthy, being active and staying smoke-free.

Ticker was also seen meeting new friends and spreading his messages beyond the summer recreation programs. The cool cat was promoting heart health wherever he could! Ticker's new "Survivor" game was played with bus loads of excited youth at the Capital Coast Development Alliance Youth Health and Fitness Awareness Challenge in Bowring Park. Activities were played, prizes were won and fun was had by all!

The Evening Telegram also addressed the importance of healthy lifestyles for children and youth. Ticker Tom and three of his promoters, Linda Carter, St. John's Heart Health Coalition, Glendora Boland, Community Dietitian and Rikki-Lee Noseworthy, summer student, were featured in a Health and Fitness article addressing the importance of eating healthy, being active and staying smoke-free. Keep a look out! Ticker Tom is on the move.....

Ticker Tom Activities in Pouch Cove

Spreading the Heart Health Message

Add a beautiful summer's day, lots of ice cold drinks, fresh fruit, and over 70 people walking along the Trepassey highway...what do you have...the annual Walk for Wellness! Community health nurse Bertha Butler once again organized the Walk for Wellness to promote healthy lifestyles for the children, teens, adults and seniors of Trepassey. The St. John's Heart Health Coalition donated prizes and brought along displays on healthy eating and physical activity. Bertha Butler and the people of Trepassey are to be commended for showing just how involved they are in spreading the heart health message.

Walkers for Wellness in Trepassey

Heart Health Messages at Camp

During the summer 2001, the heart health messages were also spread to a great group of girls participating in a Boys and Girls Club Camp at Lavrock. The girls, ages 8 to 12, spent an afternoon asking questions, playing games and winning prizes with dietetic intern, Lori Hollett and summer student, Rikki-Lee Noseworthy. Cool prizes were donated by the School Milk Foundation and the young girls were eager to learn all there is to know about eating well, being active and feeling good about yourself.