Get Into Grinnell Blog

Have you heard of the 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count program? This initiative, led by the Healthiest State Initiative and the Iowa Department of Public Health and part of the nationally recognized 5-2-1-0 program, is helping create healthier environments in educational settings, health care practices, workplaces, and communities - the places where Iowa families live, learn, work, and play. 

Four numbers - one way to stay healthy! 5-2-1-0 calls for the following every day: 

• 5 or more servings of fruit and vegetables
• 2 hours or less of screen time
• 1 hour or more of physical activity 
• 0 sugary drinks - drink more water!

Grinnell was recently awarded a $30,000 grant through the Iowa Department of Public Health and has spent several months engaging community partners to identify projects specifically related to at least one of the 5-2-1-0 focuses noted above. Now that these projects have been identified and verified, partners are now beginning to implement some of these projects which include installing sensory pathways (creative pathways designed to help children build connections to sight, touch, sound, etc)  in our elementary buildings, purchasing of portable playground equipment to use in various parks and events this summer, and taste testing in elementary schools, to name a few. 

Earlier this week, the Grinnell-Newburg School District held a 'Taste Test Tuesday' in an effort to get kids to try new fruits or vegetables. Dietitians and teachers lead some of the discussions with youth, encouraging them to try something new. Much to their surprise, some of these students learned that they really do like bell peppers even though they hadn't been too excited about it prior! Through the partnership with the School District, these 'taste tests' are also able to be extended to the full menu, allowing students to eat the fruit or vegetable again as part of school lunches. 

There are many great health-related projects taking place in our community, and we're excited to help share information as we work collaboratively to #buildahealthygrinnell with our #healthychoicescount. 

--Rachael Kinnick