Fuel Up to Play 60 Training Day Builds Excitement for Program Among Student Teams « Back

The Midwest Dairy Council and the Minnesota Vikings recently hosted student leaders and faculty advisors from 22 Fuel Up to Play 60 teams in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Apple Valley, and Northfield to Training Day 2010 at Mall of America Field at the Metrodome. Training Day’s purpose was to build excitement and help the more than 120 attending students and their advisors better understand the fundamentals of the Fuel Up to Play 60 program. It also was designed to generate ideas to garner greater student participation within their schools.

The day’s activities were kicked off by Viktor the Vikings mascot, who dramatically arrived on the playing field on the back of a jeep. He mingled with students in the stands. K102 radio personality Mike Mussman served as emcee for the event. After a pre-recorded video greeting by Vikings linebacker, Chad Greenway, the morning featured nutrition and activity discussions led by Midwest Dairy Council registered dietitians, Julie Mattson Ostrow and Lisa McCann. Students learned more about dairy farming and how milk gets to their tables from Minnesota dairy farmer Charles Krause. He was joined on stage by Minnesota’s official dairy ambassador Princess Kay of the Milky Way, Katie Miron, who reinforced this message and emphasized the importance of dairy in a daily diet.

To get kids up and moving, the Vikings organized on-field relays and competitions for the students with individual teams led by volunteers from the DeLaSalle High School football team. While rotating through activity stations, each student team was photographed with Viktor.

Students were treated to the new Domino’s Smart Slice pizza with a whole wheat crust and low-fat toppings, specially formulated for schools. Lunch also included Schroeder branded milk (compliments of Agropur Inc, a Division of Natrel USA), Land O Lakes cheese sticks and General Mills Wheaties Fuel bars that are enriched with whey protein. While students enjoyed lunch, they were able to win NFL and Fuel Up to Play 60 prizes by answering dairy and Vikings trivia.

After lunch, Vikings Alumni Player Bob Lurtsema and Midwest Dairy registered dietitian, Carolyn Suerth Hudson, hosted an interactive discussion with students on fueling your body with a balance of nutrient-rich foods, reading nutritional labels, the importance of breakfast, think your drink, and getting 60 minutes of activity a day to stay healthy and strong. The afternoon session included a student survey to measure how much they had learned. Surveys were randomly drawn, and winners received signed NFL prizes. Two students were awarded with the grand prize -- a pair of tickets and on-field passes to an upcoming Vikings home game!

The event was held during a school release day to ensure a high level of attendance. Comments from observers and participants indicate the program was well received by the student teams and adults and that there is strong interest to repeat it next year with even more students.