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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us October 21, 2005 Obesity fight pressed by taking fatty choices away Sweets and soda are no longer options at AHS By Jennifer Squires Ashland Daily Tidings Childhood obesity may be a national problem and an issue that a significant number of Ashland public school students deal with, but school officials are doing their best to keep kids from sweet foods and drinks while educating them on good eating habits. “I think that kids are getting new habits toward eating healthier,” Ashland Middle School principal Dale Rooklyn said, adding he is even making an effort to pick fruits and vegetables over sweets. Sweet foods and drinks can be hard to come by during school hours. The vending machines at the middle school went on lock-down during school hours a year ago. Soda lost its premiere display in drink machines at AMS to juices and milk about a half-decade ago. And, this fall, the fizzy drinks were taken out of AHS machines altogether. “I think any time you give kids more-nutritious choices rather than less-nutritious choices it’s to their benefit,” said Judy Blickenstaff, FNP, who staffs the school-based health center at AHS. Blickenstaff and Belinda Brown, the nurse at AMS, weighed third graders, middle school and high school students to see how a sample of Ashland students played into national averages. They found that one-quarter or more of each group surveyed were classified as overweight or obese. “I’ve been looking at these kids,” Blickenstaff said. “These numbers didn’t surprise me.” While the survey was not scientific, the health care professionals felt it was a good way to assess their student populations and determine their needs. Next week, Blickenstaff will speak to six health classes at Ashland High and show students a Power Point presentation that includes the survey results. The information may inspire some to adopt healthier lifestyles. “If the only choices available to you are high-fat, high-sugar, calorie-dense foods, that’s what you’re going to eat,” Blickenstaff said. “Now you can have better choices and still choose the junky food, at least they have had the choice.” Staff writer Jennifer Squires can be reached at 482-3456 x 3019 or [email protected]. DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Deep Muscle Stimulator Free Music Downloads Slippers Ceramic Piggy Banks FREE Entertainment Guide Women's & Men's Slippers Accelerate Weightloss Products teleconferencing High-End Gaming Computers Diamonds Vegas Travel Guide Search Engine Optimization Sportsbook Discounted Website Hostings Student Loans Hotel & Airline Reservations African Safari Myspace Layouts Helzberg Diamonds Online Casinos Community Student Loans Bonus Casino ink cartridges Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Mailing Lists Generic Viagra Casino Gambling Sites Backpacks Click Here .:Advertisements:. Site Search: Advertisement RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams