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NEA HIN and Nestlé in the U.S. Expand Partnership

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ATLANTA, GA.
Healthy Steps for Healthy Lives

New Edition of Healthy Steps for Healthy Lives to Offer Free Nutrition Resources for Upper Elementary School Grades 3-6, in Addition to Grades K-3

The National Education Association Health Information Network (NEA HIN) and Nestlé in the United States are expanding their joint initiative Healthy Steps for Healthy Lives to include nutrition resources for upper elementary school students (grades 3-6). Materials are currently available for grades K-3 through an existing NEA HIN and Nestlé partnership, which supports educators’ efforts to teach students about healthy living. The additional and freely available materials were created in response to educators’ requests for similar resources for older students.  The program will be launched during the 2013 NEA Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Ga., June 26 - July 6. 

“The new addition to Healthy Steps for Healthy Lives responds to teachers’ keen interest in helping children build healthy lives through good nutrition and physical activity,” said Jerry Newberry, Executive Director, NEA HIN.  “This free information offers fun, practical, and standards-based teaching resources for educators in the upper elementary grades.  These resources, aligned to federal nutrition guidelines and tested by teachers, offer new and engaging ways to help students thrive.”

Healthy Steps for Healthy Lives helps educators incorporate the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans into their classrooms by providing them with resources that promote health through improved nutrition and physical activity. The materials also demonstrate a strong alignment with National Health Education Standards, Common Core State Standards and other voluntary content standards. For grade-level-specific charts with additional performance indicators and standards for every content area, please visit www.neahin.org

“The fourth edition of the Healthy Steps for Healthy Lives program is a testament to how committed educators are to helping young students understand the importance of living healthy lifestyles. With nearly one in three U.S. children considered overweight or obese, nutrition education should be a crucial component of curriculum for K-6 students,” said Chavanne Hanson, MPH, RD, LD, and Wellness Champion for Nestlé USA. “Growing our partnership with the NEA means we can bring our shared mission to greater numbers of students by connecting health and wellness to the school environment.” 

More than six in ten educators (63 percent) requested a Healthy Steps for Healthy Lives kit for upper elementary grade levels, according to a 2012 teacher evaluation of the original materials.  Following the earlier editions of the kits, the new materials are grouped by three themes—THINK Healthy; EAT Healthy; and MOVE Healthy— all of which contribute to a versatile program of activities that incorporate multiple learning styles for all students.

To help educators use these activities in the classroom, the kit provides a comprehensive lesson planning guide featuring 10 instructional activities and visual aids, including a MyPlate poster offering visual examples of healthy living, and food cards identifying the five food groups. Each lesson features a “modifications” section, which enables educators to tailor the activities for their classrooms. To order free copies of the Healthy Steps for Healthy Lives  kit, please email your request to [email protected] and specify Grades K-3 or 3-6. Please note, materials were developed for K-3 and 3-6 to align with national standards, as well as the targeted age range for academic ability levels. The materials overlap grade levels to allow for flexibility of use within both primary and intermediate settings.

Healthy Steps for Healthy Lives was originally created by Nestlé USA in 2005, and is part of the Nestlé Healthy Kids Global Programme, a larger global commitment by Nestlé to create shared value through nutrition, health and wellness awareness among school age children.

About the National Education Association Health Information Network

As the non-profit health affiliate of the National Education Association the NEA Health Information Network (NEA HIN) provides health and safety information to the over 3 million members of the NEA and the students they serve. NEA HIN distributes information nationally through NEA's 51 state/territory affiliates, as well as 14,000 local education associations. For more information, please visit www.neahin.org.

About Nestlé in the United States

Nestlé in the United States consists of five main businesses: Nestlé USA, Nestlé Purina PetCare Company, Nestlé Waters North America, Nestlé Nutrition and Nestlé Professional. Together, these companies operate in more than 120 locations in 47 states and employ over 51,000 people. The United States is Nestlé S.A.’s largest market with combined product sales in the United States totaling more than $25 billion in 2012. 

Committed to being recognized and trusted as the leading Nutrition, Health and Wellness company, Nestlé in the United States provides nutritious, healthy food for every member of the family at every stage of life: infants and toddlers, families, athletes, mature adults/grandparents, and pets. Key brands include LEAN CUISINE®, NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE®, POWERBAR®, NESTLÉ® PURE LIFE®, POLAND SPRING®, GERBER®, and PURINA ONE®.

Media Contacts
Edie Burge
Nestlé USA, Corporate Affairs
818.551.3284
[email protected]

Brandon Thomas
Widmeyer Communications
646.688.7826
[email protected]

Zachary Kolsky
NEA Health Information Network
202.822.7778
[email protected]