BEVERLY - There were exercises, healthy snacks, video games and more at Beverly-Center Elementary School's first Family Fitness Night Thursday, but the exhibit that caught the attention of a lot of children - and parents - was a box filled with 33 pounds of sugar.
That's how much sugar a person consumes in a year if they drink one can of soda every day, said Carma Schilling, director of health services for the Fort Frye Local school district.
"I was pretty surprised by it," said fourth-grader Jenna Steele.
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Fort Frye cheerleaders and track coach Bobbi Webb show elementary students how to do a handstand sna
Steele and more than 100 Beverly-Center students, parents and grandparents gathered in the gymnasium to not only learn about healthy lifestyle activities but see them demonstrated and get a chance to participate.
Members of the Fort Frye High School football and track teams led younger students in exercises related to their sports.
"We're telling them how stretching helps flexibility, helps you become a better runner, prevents injuries," said Cory Schilling, a junior on the track team.
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EVAN BEVINS The Marietta Times
Fort Frye High School track team members Sarah Biehl, left, and Cory Schilling show Beverly-Center Elementary fourth-graders Nate Brothers, second from right, and Brenden Huck how to do some stretching exercises Thursday during the elementary school’s Family Fitness Night.
Beverly-Center fourth-grader Nate Brothers gave the stretches a try.
"It's a little bit painful, but it's fun at the same time," he said.
Track coach Bobbi Webb said she had no trouble getting team members to volunteer to help with the event.
Fact Box
Food
comparisons at a glance
Recommended serving size comparisons:
One cup of cereal flakes = a fist
One pancake = a compact disc
One piece of cornbread = a bar of soap
One cup of salad = a baseball
One cup of ice cream = half a baseball
Half cup of fresh fruit = half a baseball
Three ounces of meat, fish, poultry = a deck of cards
One-and-a-half ounces of cheese = four stacked dice or two cheese slices
Source: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
"Our coaching staff likes to encourage our kids to give back to the community," she said.
Third-grader Amanda Cooper said she enjoyed a climbing exercise the football players led, in which students had to pull themselves up a series of wooden handholds.
"It was fun and it gives you arm strength," she said.
Angela Wilson, president of the Beverly-Center PTO, said the event was one of the school's periodic family nights. Past events have focused on art, math and science.
Wilson was manning a table where students were encouraged to try healthy snacks, like star fruit, grapefruit and broccoli.
"There (are) healthy snacks out there that are tasty," she said.
The price of admission was a healthy snack, and students earned extra credit for participating.
In addition to the high school athletes, volunteers at the event included school staff members, parents and representatives of Marietta Memorial Hospital. Carma Schilling said local businesses and groups donated money and materials to the event.
Schilling said she plans to have similar programs at the district's other elementary schools, Lowell and Salem-Liberty.
Students on Thursday seemed to be having fun and learning at the same time.
"I think it's going to teach us a lot about what to eat and what not to eat," said fourth-grader Jadelynne Baker.
Recalling an exhibit that showed how big recommended portion sizes for some foods are, Baker added, "And also it's going to persuade us not to eat so much."
