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The School District of Palm Beach County is very fortunate to be the first school district in the State of Florida to partner with HealthCorps® programs. HealthCorps®, a health educational and mentoring program developed by Dr. Mehmet C. Oz, was created to educate and empower teens toward greater health awareness and advocacy for themselves and their communities. HealthCorps® teaches American youth about the workings and wonders of their bodies through in and after school seminars on nutrition, mental resilience, and physical fitness. It empowers teens to become educated consumers and to make shifts in behavior that can be measured by changes in the rates of obesity and physical fitness as well as mental well-being and self esteem. Palm Beach Gardens Community High School was the first school in our community and in the State to welcome the program. During the 2008-2009 school year HealthCorps® witnessed tremendous growth with its expansion into four additional schools: Atlantic Community High, Wellington Community High, Forest Hill Community High, and Santaluces Community High. One of the most exciting innovations to come out of the HealthCorps® program is a cafeteria line that was first developed by Colleen Sherk, HealthCorps® Coordinator at Atlantic Community High School. The line, called “Nutritious Dishes”, concentrates the nutritious items that are offered on the regular menu into one line, offered daily, on a weekly rotating schedule. Students at the schools were surveyed by their HealthCorps® Coordinator to determine what menu selections they would like to see on the line. Items offered range from healthy salads to wraps, fresh fruit, healthy snacks, 100% fruit juices and water. Students and administration are excited about the new line which is evidenced by the increase in participation. The “Nutritious Dishes” lines have been so successful that even schools that do not have a HealthCorps® program in their school are adding the lines to their cafeteria offerings. |