Program helps educate Spartanburg area kids about eating healthy

Healthy Eating Decisions, a program developed by Wofford psychology professor David Pittman, is now available to elementary schools throughout South Carolina. The program helps schools easily identify the healthiest combination of foods available on each day's lunch menu and provides a means for students to receive public recognition for choosing the healthiest food items by ringing a bell.

The initiative has been offered in some Spartanburg County schools since 2009. So far, three local districts have opted to implement it in 17 school cafeterias.

“Part of this is teaching kids that you have choices to make, and some choices are better than others,” Pittman explained. “Hopefully they will learn by this what foods are healthier than others, and if we teach them earlier on, they'll learn this behavior and it will become intrinsic.”

Healthy Eating Decisions was made available to schools statewide this week, and Pittman said one school outside of Spartanburg has already signed up. School leaders can register for the free program online and enter their school lunch menu's nutritional information. The program will automatically analyze the data and identify the best, most nutritious option for each day.

The program expansion was made possible by a $500 HEROES Grant from Youth Service America. The grant was awarded to Pittman's research assistant for the program, Jordan Hardy, in October for the purposes of expanding Healthy Eating Decisions to other counties in the state. One participating school will be randomly selected to receive a carnival celebrating healthy living.

Hardy, a senior psychology and art history major at Wofford, said she is interested in pursuing a career in the nutrition field. She said the Healthy Eating Decisions program is not only an investment in the school, but in its students.

“We haven't had anyone say, ‘No, this isn't something we're interested in,'” said Hardy, 22. “That showed there really is an interest in schools to help kids be healthier and get them interested in nutrition because it's a lifelong process and commitment, but it's very important.”

For more information on the program visit HealthyEatingDecisions.com.

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