South Lake Tahoe students take the WeCan! fitness and nutrition challenge

Almost 2,000 elementary students from South Lake Tahoe completed the WeCan! fitness and nutritional program on Friday, October 10.

Students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade at Bijou, Lake Tahoe Environmental Magnet, Sierra House and Tahoe Valley Elementary Schools participated in the four week program.

The students participated in weekly challenges that focused on fitness and nutrition goals. Challenges included eating fruits and vegetables of a particular color, drinking more water, stretching, exercising and trying new healthy foods.

“Research shows that physical activity and healthy eating help children become both physically and mentally active,” says Rebecca Bryson, a member of the Lake Tahoe sustainability collaborative, who helped organize the program. “WeCan! has been a great opportunity to improve our local children’s education, health and wellbeing.”

Each elementary school’s physical education teacher – Seth Martin, Kristi Jouett, Grace Magnussen, and Rhonda Riggs – participated and helped orchestrate the program with their students. Shelley Gianatta, Director of Tahoe Unified School District Food Services, as well as the school’s food service staff, stepped in and served fruits and vegetables that matched the color of the week.

During the last week, parent volunteers and Barton Health staff served samples of pomegranate arils that were provided by CalFresh, Raley’s, and Barton Health. For many students, it was their first time trying this fall fruit.

WeCan! is a creation of the Lake Tahoe sustainability collaborative and is sponsored by Barton Health.

Find more information about WeCan! and the weekly challenges, go to www.bartonhealth.org/wecan.