SANDY, Utah -- Several organizations teamed up to teach kids the importance of making smart choices about healthy eating and exercising every day.
The Kohl’s Healthy Kids program is a cooperative effort by Kohl’s Department Stores, University of Utah Health Care and Radio Disney. The program visited Quail Hollow Elementary School in Sandy to help kids live healthy lifestyles.
Jared Perry, executive director of University of Utah Health Care, said recent trends make the project more important than ever.
“In the past 30 years obesity rates in children have more than tripled, so it`s very important we teach them healthy habits now, so they take those habits and as adults they know how to eat right, they know how to exercise and they know how to be healthy,” he said.
Jared said their message is simple and easy for kids to remember.
“It’s instilled in their minds that you do the 5-2-1-0: You have five servings of fruits and vegetables every single day, you limit your screen time on TV and computers to two hours a day, exercise for an hour each day, and you drink zero carbonated and sugar drinks.”
At the event Taylor Ransom, Kohl’s Department Stores, presented a check to the University of Utah Health Care, which he said will help kids stay fit.
“I gave a check to the university hospital and university healthcare system, and it was $303,000 dollars, and it just all goes straight to helping kids stay healthy,” Ransom said.
The money will be used to host assemblies on healthy living at more schools across the state.
