August 25, 2006

New Statewide ‘Eat Smart. Play Hard.’
Campaign to Kick Off

Families eating meals together is the focus of the new “Eat Smart. Play Hard.” campaign that kicks off in North Dakota on Sept. 1.

The North Dakota State University Extension Service and Bison Athletics teamed up last year to launch the statewide community service campaign, which emphasizes combining healthy eating and physical activity. “Eat Smart. Play Hard. Together” is the theme of their effort this year.

“Sometimes life may seem too hectic to sit down and eat together,” says Julie Garden-Robinson, NDSU Extension’s food and nutrition specialist. “However, research shows that family meals have many benefits.”

According to the research:

• Eating meals as a family builds strong bonds among family members and gives everyone a chance to reconnect.
• Children do better in school and their communication skills improve.
• Children are less likely to participate in risky behavior, such as drug or alcohol use and smoking, and they have fewer symptoms of depression.
• Children have a healthier diet, eating more fruits, vegetables, grains and calcium-rich foods, and they drink fewer soft drinks.
• Eating family meals is enjoyable for children and teens. In a national study, eight out of 10 adolescents rated eating with their families as one of their favorite activities.

The campaign also emphasizes that physical activity is vital for everyone.

“Healthy eating and physical activity are a natural part of an athlete’s daily routine, but it is very important for everyone to find a lifelong physical activity that they can enjoy,” says Troy Goergen, NDSU’s associate athletic director for marketing and media relations.

The statewide “Eat Smart. Play Hard.” program is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s initiative of the same name.

In this year’s North Dakota campaign:

• NDSU Extension and Bison Athletics will distribute pocket folders with information on nutrition and physical activity to the state’s nearly 44,000 students in kindergarten to fifth grade, and continue to provide schools with “Eat Smart. Play Hard.” posters.
• Parents will receive a newsletter that stresses the importance of family meals.
• Teachers and youth organization leaders will receive an activity guide with 16 minilessons on nutrition and physical activities, which are based on the new USDA food guidance system called MyPyramid.
• Seven billboards featuring NDSU Bison athletes and children making healthy eating choices will appear throughout Fargo.
• Public service announcements with the USDA “Eat Smart. Play Hard.” messages will air in the Fargo area in September and next spring.
• Bison athletes will visit Fargo area schools and 4-H clubs to promote healthy eating and getting adequate physical activity.

The “Eat Smart. Play Hard.” materials feature Bison athletes from across the state. The athletes and their sport are: Ross Schilling of Harvey, track and field; Katie Dahlen of Fargo, women’s basketball; Heather Zander of Mandan, track and field; and Kyle Steffes of Dickinson, football.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, Midwest Dairy Association, Northarvest Bean Growers Association, North Dakota Beef Commission, North Dakota Nutrition Council, North Dakota School Nutrition Association and North Dakota Wheat Commission are sponsoring this year’s campaign.

For more information about “Eat Smart. Play Hard.” visit the USDA Web site at www.fns.usda.gov/eatsmartplayhard/. For food and nutrition information, check out www.mypyramid.com or NDSU Extension’s Web site at www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/food.htm, or contact your local Extension Service office.

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Source: Julie Garden-Robinson, (701) 231-7187, jgardenr@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Ellen Crawford, (701) 231-5391, ellen.crawford@ndsu.edu

Click here for a PDF version of this poster. (444Kb pdf)

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