Midwest Dairy Association

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Chicago Bears Mascot, Staley Da Bear, kicked off Fuel Up to Play 60 at a middle school in Bolingbrook, Illinois, on the first day of school. Students won Staley Da Bear's visit for their 100% enrollment in Fuel Up to Play 60 last school year when, as part of an online challenge, 70% logged the healthy choices they were making for themselves and their school, including the launch of a healthy snack cart and planned student-created activities in the gym after school.

Staley Da Bear, sported a "100%" letter jersey an altered version of his traditional "00" jersey, in honor of the school's mass participation in Fuel Up to Play 60, led three pep rallies for 1300 students at the Bolingbrook campus to kick-off the program for this school year. Staley also distributed low-fat milk and string cheese snacks during his visit, signed a Fuel Up to Play 60 banner, pledging to eat healthy and be active for 60 minutes a day, and invited the students to follow his example. Since the kick-off, snack cart sales have tripled, and awareness of the program has increased.

The healthy snack cart, which “rolled out” last school year, now operates during every passing period every day of the week simultaneously in three different locations within the school! The cart is manned by Fuel Up to Play 60 Program Advisors, Teachers, and Deans. At least 2 food groups are offered daily - offerings include string cheese, a variety of fruit and veggies, whole grain snacks, and portable yogurt, reasonably priced. The cart idea was generated by the school’s Fuel Up to Play 60 student team - the Fuel Up to Play 60 School Wellness Investigation revealed in a student survey that many students were hungry by mid-morning. Many students start their day very early with sports or other activities, or have a late lunch (since there are 5 lunch periods), and had trouble concentrating due to hunger. The program advisor commented that students are now buying healthy snacks that they might not have normally tried, because they’re readily available - spurring behavior change to reach for healthy snacks both in and outside of school. Fuel Up to Play 60 student team members also contributed their own original healthy snack recipes, including yogurt parfaits & smoothies and distributed the recipes from the carts.






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