DATE: 6/23/06

CONTACT: Marlyne R. Walker, (803) 276-1091; marlyne@clemson.edu

WRITER: Diane Palmer, (864) 656-4741; spalmer@clemson.edu

Clemson Extension offers new healthy eating program for preschoolers

NEWBERRY – “Only one in five children eats five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, as recommended by the National Cancer Institute,” said Marlyne Walker, Clemson Extension agent.

American children spend more time watching television, videotapes and playing video games than doing anything else except sleeping.

“Is it any wonder that approximately one in five children in South Carolina is now overweight,” she said.

Clemson Extension in Newberry County has joined other counties across the state in delivering a new program called “Color Me Healthy” in hopes of changing eating and physical activity habits of preschoolers. Walker is a regional trainer for the program.

The program was developed to reach children ages four and five with fun, innovative, interactive learning opportunities that encourage physical activity and healthy eating. Included is a variety of materials to make healthy eating and physical activity fun for the children including posters, picture cards, and original music. It uses color, music and exploration of the senses to teach children that healthy food and physical activity are fun.

First Steps, Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and S.C. DHEC have joined Clemson Extension in bringing the program to Newberry County . A recent training was held for childcare providers who work with four and five year old children. They took part in hands-on learning on how to teach Color Me Healthy in their classroom. Participants also received at no cost all the materials needed to teach the program in their classroom.

The program can be used by childcare providers in childcare centers, family daycare homes, Head Start classrooms, and public preschool and kindergarten classes.

Clemson Extension agents around the state are also teaching the program, they are: Latosia Gibson, Deon Leggette, Sherry Davis-Livingston, Marilyn Peters, Gloria Springs , Gayle Williford and Carolyn Lewis, retired Clemson Extension agent. EFNEP’s nutrition education assistants are already teaching the lesson plans to preschoolers in a variety of settings.

For more information, contact Marlyne R. Walker at (803) 276-1091 ext. 115 or email: marlyne@clemson.edu. Karen T. Graham, health educator with DHEC, is the state training coordinator. She may be reached at (864) 596-2227 ext. 266 or by email at grahamkt@dhec.sc.gov.

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