Healthy eating promotion on menu in St. John
Published 12:26 pm Tuesday, March 31, 2015
- St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre talks with students from Our Lady of Grace School Monday morning in Reserve (Gladys Davis Mulkey/L’OBSERVATEUR)
RESERVE — Healthy eating was on the menu Monday when St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre and State Rep. Gregory Miller (R-Norco) gathered for breakfast with approximately 20 youngsters from Our Lady of Grace School in Reserve.
Sheriff Mike Tregre, from left, St. John County Agent Rene’ Schmit, State Rep. Gregory Miller (R-Norco) and Cynthia Clifton, LSU AgCenter extension agent, discuss healthy eating and what is being done locally to encourage better lifestyle choices.
The elected officials were the guests of Cynthia Clifton, LSU AgCenter extension agent and member of the FCS Nutrition Advisory Board, who hosted the meal.
Community leaders were eating with local students to discuss and demonstrate the importance of healthy eating.
Tregre took time out to answer questions from students during their breakfast together.
During the meal, Tregre thanked Clifton and principal Precious Joseph for providing the venue for him to speak with the children.
“We do not get this type of interaction with law enforcement and youth very often,” he said. “Interaction with youth is where it is; no matter if it’s five kids or 500 kids. We don’t get this type of opportunity very often and we wish to have more interaction with law enforcement and our youth.”
Miller said the breakfast and Clifton’s speech on efforts under way in the parish on behalf of the Advisory Board helped him realize a lot was being done to educate youth and adults.
Clifton said she invited the local officials to demonstrate how youth in the parish are eating healthy while in school.
“Children eat what they see their parents or adults eat,” Clifton said. “In order for someone to eat or try something different, they have to be introduced to something different.”
Outside of instruction geared toward youth — currently seven schools in St. John are growing vegetable gardens and using the food during school lunches — FCS Nutrition Advisory Board members offer nutrition classes to the community to promote healthier living.
The program is offered from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Homer Joseph Community Center in Reserve until May.
After May the location is undecided. There is no charge for the nutrition classes. Call Clifton at 985-497-3261 for class information or healthier living tips.
Class participants are taught how to eat healthy, about portion sizes and the benefits of reading nutrition labels.
“People respond to you if you take the time to really interact with them,” Clifton said. “You exercise with them and teach them to start reading labels, not only looking at the calories. By teaching them, they remember.”
