4-H Delivers

San Benito County Increase Awareness: Healthy Living Field Day

THE ISSUE
Every time 4-H members recite the 4-H pledge, they say the phrase “I pledge my….Health for better living.” What does this really mean to the Statewide 4-H program? The Union 4-H club in Hollister, California hosted a 4-H Healthy Living Field day on May 7^th 2011 at the Fair Grounds in Tres Pinos to discover what healthy living really means. 4-H members and their families participated in this event, which were divided into three components: nutrition education, physical activity and a healthy cook-off. With the rise in chronic diseases and obesity, a healthy living is essential to create healthier communities in order to allow youth and adult members grow and thrive. Each year, 7 out of 10 Americans die from chronic diseases. Heart disease, cancer and stroke account for more than 50% of deaths. Obesity also has become a major health concern. 1 in every 3 adults is obese and almost 1 in 5 youth between the ages of 6-19 is obese[1].  The Healthy Living Field Day showed 4-H members that living a healthy lifestyle, which includes eating healthy and exercising, can be fun and good for them! This event in San Benito County was a huge success and by the end of the event, participants insisted that a Healthy Living field day should be an annual event.

WHAT HAS 4-H DONE?
Approximately seven 4-H members were on the organizing committee. This enthusiastic team of dedicated 4-H members coordinated 9 nutrition education booths and 8 physical activity stations at the event. The committee also encouraged 7 local 4-H clubs and the YMCA to participate in this event. A registered dietician helped plan a program for the nutrition education booths.

THE PAYOFF
4-H Members Learn to be Physically Active and Eat Healthy 
On the day of the event, 4-H members visited each booth not anticipating to learn, however, they learned to eat five fruits and vegetables a day, how to pick healthy cereals, what foods are considered whole grains, the importance of calcium and vitamin D for healthy bones, foods that contain healthy fats, and how to build a healthy and balanced food plate. Participants sampled healthy snacks and played games at each booth to learn the basics of nutrition. Outside the booth area, participants ran around and played games such as relay races, racquet baseball, frisbee, jump rope, and hula hoop. 

The field day featured a healthy cook-off, 4-H Chopped, which intrigued the audience as young chefs chopped, cooked and prepared delicious recipes. Alyssa Sockel from Union 4-H club won the healthy snack category with her healthy 7-layer dip recipe. The recipe included healthier substitutions for a 7 layer dip. Substitutions included yogurt instead of sour cream, portabello mushrooms instead of ground beef, black beans instead of pinto beans, fresh tomatoes and avocado served with low-fat baked chips. Joseph Nino and Christopher Jurevich from Cienega 4-H club won the healthy salad category with their Chinese chicken salad recipe. The team chopped and mixed celery, snap peas, chicken, and mandarin oranges together with a homemade salad dressing.  Jessica Bless from Fairview 4-H club won the healthy dessert category with her brown rice pudding recipe. The recipe included whole grain brown rice, apple juice, evaporated skim milk, raisins and slivered almonds. The cook-off ended with a distribution of raffle prizes.  4-H members shared their favorite part of the event, the healthy plate booth and the cook-off. 

San Benito County 4-H would like to thank the 4-H Youth Development Program for funding this event and encouraging 4-H members and their families to live a healthier lifestyle. San Benito County special would also like to thank 4-H members Kelly Whiteley, Emily Whiteley, Erica Leung, Kelly McCullough, Megan Carvalho, Amy Carvalho, Samantha Corrales, and their parents for helping plan this event.