EMG News

Pass the Greens, Please

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 19:01:00 GMT

November: Enjoy more fruits and vegetables

October got Daily Difference off to a strong start. Staff across EatMoveGrow schools filled their tumblers, named what they were grateful for, and checked on each other. You built those habits one day at a time.

November adds one more. This month's theme is Harvest Your Health, and the goal is simple: enjoy more fruits and vegetables. You do not need a new diet or a grocery overhaul. You need one or two more servings a day, and a plan to make them easy.

Why it matters for school staff

Most adults fall short, and Louisiana adults fall shorter. CDC data from 2019 show that only 11% of Louisiana adults ate enough fruit and only 7% ate enough vegetables. Nationally, the numbers were 12% and 10%.

Adults need about 1.5 to 2 cups of fruit and 2 to 3 cups of vegetables each day. For most of us, that is a gap of a few servings, and a few servings is a gap you can close.

The payoff shows up in how you feel. A study of more than 12,000 adults found that happiness and life satisfaction rose with each extra daily serving of fruits and vegetables, up to eight a day. On a long school day, more fiber, vitamins, and water from produce can also help you keep your energy steady through the afternoon.

Three small moves for November

1. Fill half your plate with fruits and vegetables. Use this at lunch and at supper. Before you add anything else, put a vegetable or fruit on half the plate. On a cafeteria tray, take the side salad, the green beans, or the fruit cup. At home, add a bagged salad or a pan of roasted vegetables to whatever you already cook.

2. Keep fruits and vegetables visible and easy to reach. We eat what we see. Put a bowl of apples or satsumas on your desk or in the staff lounge. Keep baby carrots, snap peas, or grapes on the front shelf of the fridge. Wash and cut produce on Sunday so it is ready to grab on a busy Tuesday.

3. Start with one or two more each day. Pick one spot in your day and add one serving there. A banana with your morning coffee. A handful of cherry tomatoes during planning period. A side of greens at supper. After a week, add a second spot.

Make a when-then plan. Tie your new habit to something you already do. For example: "When I pack my lunch, then I add one fruit." Or: "When the last bell rings, then I eat a piece of fruit before I drive home." You will write your own plan on the November check-in.

What's in season in Louisiana

November is a good month to eat local. Look for these at the store, the farmers market, or a roadside stand:

Satsumas: easy to peel and perfect for a lunch box
Sweet potatoes: bake a few at once and reheat them all week
Collard, mustard, and turnip greens: a Louisiana Thanksgiving staple
Cabbage and broccoli: good roasted, steamed, or in soup
Pumpkin and winter squash: roast it or stir it into chili

Thanksgiving falls in November too. Bring a vegetable dish or a fruit tray to your family table or your school's staff potluck. You make the healthy choice easy for everyone else.

Check in and earn your November prize

Keep your October habits going. Your water bottle, your gratitude, and your connections with coworkers still count. November builds on them.

When you are ready, scan the code on the November poster in your staff lounge. The check-in takes less than 90 seconds. Tell us how many days you made a small move, share your when-then plan, and name one small win.

Everyone who checks in by the last school day of November earns a prize tied to this month's theme. Your Health Educator will bring it on the next school visit.

Show us your harvest. Send photos of your fruit bowl, your packed lunch, or your staff potluck to Hannah at hannah@eatmovegrow.us. We may feature you in a future post.

"The first wealth is health." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sources

Mission Complete: Highlights from the 2026 EMG Teacher Summit

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 18:22:18 GMT

Mission Complete: Highlights from the 2026 EMG Teacher Summit

On October 14, 54 educators from 39 rural Louisiana schools joined EatMoveGrow at Pennington Biomedical Research Center for the 2026 Teacher Summit, The 60-Minute Mission. Their mission: find more minutes of movement in every school day, so every child moves closer to 60 minutes a day.

The event by the numbers:

54 Educators trained, including 42 PE teachers
39 Schools represented
15 Rural parishes reached
288 Hours of continuing education
$13,650 In PE equipment, $350 for every school
35 Minutes of movement logged during the day
100% Agreed the Summit was a good use of their time

Event Highlights

Movement teachers can use tomorrow. Teachers practiced five movement breaks that take five minutes or less and need no equipment. The room logged 35 minutes on the Movement Barometer, more than double the +15 goal.
Teachers learning from teachers. A panel from seven schools shared how Marathon Kids walking clubs add minutes to the school day.
Aligned with the state. The Louisiana Department of Education briefed teachers on the Presidential Fitness Test and Louisiana's draft PE standards.
Nutrition that works. Louisiana Team Nutrition showed how EMG's Fruit and Vegetable Superheroes raised students' fruit and vegetable intake.
Healthy staff, healthy schools. EMG launched Daily Difference, an October to May wellness challenge for every adult in EMG schools.
Equipment where it counts. In EMG's resource survey, new or replacement equipment tied as the top need schools named. Every school went home with $350 in PE equipment.

Results we can measure

Teachers left more confident and ready to act:
Confidence to find 15 extra minutes a day rose from 62% to 91%.
Confidence rose on all nine skills taught.
44% plan to add 11 or more minutes of movement per day.
79% will use rainy-day movement activities this semester.
85% were returning Summit attendees.

Those minutes add up. Fifteen extra minutes a day equals 45 more hours of movement for each student over a 180-day school year.

"I appreciate the resources, ideas, and strategies shared throughout the summit. It is always beneficial to learn new ways to keep students engaged, active, and motivated while promoting their overall health and wellness."

PE teacher, Evangeline Parish

"Your guys' positivity sets the mood for an enjoyable day that I look forward to every year!"

PE teacher, St. Mary Parish

Three more years of EatMoveGrow

We are excited to share that HRSA has funded EatMoveGrow for three more years through the Delta States Rural Development Network Program. This funding keeps EMG working with 45 schools across 15 rural Louisiana parishes. Together with Pennington Biomedical Research Center, LSU AgCenter, the Louisiana Rural Health Association, Southwest Louisiana AHEC, and Bunkie General Hospital, we will keep building a culture of health in rural schools.

Thank you to every teacher who gave a day to this mission. EatMoveGrow is here to support you every step of the way!

Start Strong: Three 2-Minute Moves for October

Tue, 20 Oct 2026 18:30:22 GMT

Start Strong: Three 2-Minute Moves for October

Losing just 1.5% of your body’s water can bring on headaches, fatigue and trouble concentrating, and most of us don’t feel thirsty until we’re already there. About half of you told us you drink 3 cups of water or less on a school day. October is a good month to change that.

October’s Daily Difference theme, Start Strong, has three parts: water, gratitude and connection. Each one takes less than 2 minutes.

1. Water
Fill your bottle before first bell and again at lunch.
With a colleague: fill both bottles on the way to duty.

2. Gratitude
Before you leave school, write down one good thing from the day. In one study, people who did this every week exercised about an hour and a half more per week than people who wrote about hassles.
With a colleague: start a gratitude board in the staff lounge.

3. Connection
Eat lunch sitting down with someone once this week. 90% of you told us you have a coworker you can count on. Go find them.

This month’s challenge
Do one of the three every school day for a week. Then scan the QR code on the October poster in your staff lounge to check in. Your check-in earns a Start Strong prize from your EatMoveGrow Health Educator.

Want a daily nudge?
Get one short text each school day after the last bell with a 60-second action. It’s free and optional, and you can stop any time.
Yes, Text Me - I'd like your support!

Ask your PE teacher
Ask your PE teacher for the 60-second movement break from the Teacher Summit. It works at the start of any staff meeting.

Small choices. Big difference.

Sources: Armstrong et al., Journal of Nutrition, 2012. Emmons and McCullough, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2003.h

Celebrating Our 2024–25 Gold School Award Recipients

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 22:01:25 GMT

Rural Schools Leading the Way in Health & Wellness

What does it take to become a model of health and wellness in a rural school?
For 21 schools across the 17-parish region served by EatMoveGrow, the answer lies in committed leadership, community-driven action, and a shared belief that every child—no matter their ZIP code—deserves a healthy start.

These outstanding schools earned Gold Medal School Award Status for the 2024–2025 school year by completing every requirement of the EatMoveGrow School Wellness Scorecard, a tool designed to help schools implement evidence-based strategies that improve health outcomes. Their achievements were recognized at the annual EatMoveGrow Teacher Summit, where they were honored for creating healthier school environments through policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) change—hallmarks of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model.

Supporting Wellness with Real Investment

EatMoveGrow is proud to back up our schools' hard work with more than just praise—we provide real dollars to support their continued efforts. This year, EMG awarded $45,600 in direct funding to schools for completing their wellness contract activities. These awards help schools grow gardens, host physical activity events, build wellness programs, and sustain momentum long after lessons are done.

In the past two years alone, during this current three-year HRSA grant period, EMG has invested a total of $94,000 directly into rural schools through School Wellness Contracts—putting resources where they’re needed most: on the ground, in the classroom, and around the playground .

A Proven, Rural-Focused Model for Change

EatMoveGrow’s model isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s a boots-on-the-ground, data-driven approach that embeds Health Educators into partner schools, builds local capacity, and supports long-term change. This work is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) through the Delta States Rural Development Network Grant.

Key strategies of the EMG model include:

Formation of School Wellness Committees (SWCs)
Completion of the CDC’s School Health Index
Customized Action Plans for each school
Monthly classroom instruction on healthy eating, physical activity, and social-emotional wellness
Measurable improvements in student knowledge, behavior, and BMI

In 2024–25 alone:

89% of EMG schools made documented health improvements through active SWCs
1,929 hours of technical assistance were provided to educators and administrators
Over 1,987 classroom lessons were delivered
43% of participating students experienced positive BMI change

Meet the 2024–25 Gold Medal Schools

Acadia Parish

Churchpoint Elementary
Iota Elementary
South Crowley Elementary
Evangeline Elementary

Allen Parish

Oakdale Elementary
Oberlin Elementary

Avoyelles Parish

Riverside Elementary

Catahoula Parish

Harrisonburg Elementary
Jonesville Elementary

Concordia Parish

Concordia Parish MST
Monterey High School
Vidalia Upper Elementary

Evangeline Parish

James Stephens Montessori

Lafourche Parish

Golden Meadow Lower Elementary

Pointe Coupee Parish

Catholic of Pointe Coupee
Rosenwald Elementary
Upper Pointe Coupee Elementary

St. Landry Parish

Krotz Springs Elementary
Park Vista Elementary
Port Barre Elementary

St. Mary Parish

Hattie A. Watts Elementary

Why It Matters

Research confirms what we see every day in our schools:

Healthy kids learn better
Wellness efforts reduce chronic disease risk
Local ownership drives sustainable change

According to the CDC, schools with active wellness teams are three times more likely to implement lasting nutrition and physical activity policies. EMG’s approach makes that possible in even the most rural, under-resourced communities.

“We don’t wait for kids to get sick. We go where they are.” – EatMoveGrow Impact Statement

Help Us Celebrate

To all the educators, administrators, and school communities who earned Gold School Award Status — congratulations! You are setting the gold standard for rural school wellness.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to see spotlights from the Teacher Summit and success stories from the field.

EatMoveGrow is funded by HRSA and led by The Health Enrichment Network, serving rural Louisiana schools through an evidence-based model focused on improving childhood health through education, physical activity, and community partnerships.

Tracking Healthy Eating with the Veggie Meter

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 16:22:18 GMT

How a simple fingertip scan is transforming the way schools track healthy eating.

Imagine if a quick fingertip scan could reveal how many fruits and vegetables you’ve been eating. Thanks to the Veggie Meter®, that’s not just possible—it’s happening right now in EMG schools. This innovative tool uses safe light technology to measure carotenoids, the natural pigments in foods like carrots, spinach, tomatoes, and oranges. The higher your score, the more fruits and veggies you’ve been fueling your body with over the past month.

The Veggie Meter is more than a fun piece of technology. It’s helping EatMoveGrow and Team Nutrition show the real impact of school-based nutrition programs—and giving students instant, exciting feedback that connects their daily food choices to their health.

Quick, Easy, and Eye-Opening

A Veggie Meter scan takes less than two minutes and is completely painless. Students clean a fingertip, place it in the cradle, and watch as the machine gives a score that lands in one of five color zones:

Red/Orange/Yellow: Time to add more fruits and veggies!
Green/Blue: You’re doing great—keep it up!

The immediate feedback sparks curiosity and motivates students to eat more colorful fruits and vegetables.

What the Data Shows

At the 2025 Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE), Team Nutrition and EMG shared results from a five-week pilot in a rural Louisiana elementary school.

38 students in grades 5 and 6 participated.
Each week, students tried two fresh fruits or vegetables—like strawberries, bell peppers, grapes, cucumbers, and carrots.
Teachers and cafeteria staff reinforced the message with superhero posters, digital classroom resources, and stickers.

The results were powerful:

Average baseline Veggie Meter score: 190
After five weeks: 217
Increase: nearly 27 points, a measurable boost in fruit and vegetable intake

This study proves that when schools combine access to healthy foods with fun, engaging education, students eat more fruits and vegetables—and the Veggie Meter provides the evidence.

Why It Matters

Not every EMG school will use the Veggie Meter, but the schools that do give us critical data to measure our overall impact. That data allows us to:

Show how nutrition programs are changing student behavior
Demonstrate the value of evidence-based approaches
Help School Wellness Committees set goals and track progress
Encourage families and students to make healthier choices at home and school

Every fingertip scan is more than a number—it’s proof that small changes in school nutrition lead to real, lasting health improvements.

Looking Ahead

With the support of Team Nutrition , EMG schools are leading the way in connecting nutrition education to measurable health outcomes. The Veggie Meter will continue to help us track progress, celebrate successes, and inspire students to eat more fruits and vegetables every day.

The future of school health is bright—and a little more colorful—thanks to the Veggie Meter.

Building Healthier Schools: How SWCs Drive Real Change

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 15:50:27 GMT

Evidence-based strategies and real school stories showing how wellness committees transform student health.

Across EatMoveGrow schools, School Wellness Committees (SWCs) are turning evidence-based strategies into real, measurable improvements in student health and school culture. These committees bring together teachers, administrators, food service staff, parents, and community members to plan, implement, and monitor changes that make the healthy choice the easy choice.

Why SWCs Work

Research shows that schools with active wellness committees are more likely to adopt and sustain policies and practices that support healthy eating, physical activity, and overall wellness. The CDC’s Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) framework recognizes SWCs as a best practice because they:

Build accountability and shared ownership
Align school policies with federal nutrition standards and physical activity guidelines
Encourage consistent messaging about health across the school day
Provide a structure for using data, such as the School Health Index (SHI), to guide decisions

For EMG schools, the School Health Index is the foundation. Committees review the results, identify priority areas, and create action plans that are both realistic and impactful. EMG supports this work with funding through School Wellness Awards, ensuring schools have the resources to make their plans a reality.

2024–25 By the Numbers

43 schools completed the SHI (84% of EMG schools)
$42,000 awarded in School Wellness Award funds
Nearly 400 healthy action items implemented
23 schools developed or expanded gardens (43% of EMG schools now have one)
45 schools hosted nutrition events promoting healthy choices
11 schools provided nutrition staff development

Spotlights on Success

Glencoe Charter School – Maximizing Physical Activity
In their first year with EMG, the SWC discovered that students averaged only about seven minutes of vigorous activity during PE. They restructured the schedule from 25-minute daily classes to 50-minute classes every other day, giving students a full block to raise heart rates and improve fitness.

“It’s amazing to see the difference just a small schedule change can make. Students are more active, more engaged, and ready to learn when they come back to class.” – Abbie Hebert , EMG Contact

Hattie Watts Elementary – Creative Family Engagement
Family involvement was a challenging goal, so the SWC tried something new: a block party held offsite from the school. The change in venue and the festive, community-centered approach drew more families and boosted participation in wellness activities.

“Moving our event off campus made it feel like a community celebration, not just a school event. The energy and turnout were incredible.” – Hattie Watts SWC Member

James Stephens Montessori – Fundraising That Reflects School Values
The SWC replaced cookie dough sales with a Color Run, generating similar revenue while promoting physical activity. They also launched their first school garden and replaced the traditional snack cart with a SMART Cart offering healthier options.

“The Color Run got everyone moving and laughing—and it funded our programs just as well as our old fundraiser. Plus, our new garden and SMART Cart are giving kids healthy choices every day.” – James Stephens Montessori SWC Member

Elevate Your School's Snack Game

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 23:08:45 GMT

EatMoveGrow and LA Team Nutrition Partner to Provide Snack Cart Grants

We're thrilled to share some exciting news that's about to make a significant impact on the snack choices available in EMG schools.

At EatMoveGrow, we've always been committed to promoting a healthier lifestyle for students. Now, we're taking it a step further by teaming with Louisiana Team Nutrition to encourage schools to convert their snack carts to offer snacks that meet the Smarter Snack guidelines.

Why Should Schools Consider Smarter Snacks ?
Healthy eating habits are crucial for students' well-being, academic performance, and overall development. By converting your school's snack carts to Smarter Snacks, you can:

�� Prioritize Student Health : Smarter Snacks are lower in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats, ensuring that students receive the nourishment they need to stay focused and energized throughout the day.

�� Support Learning : Proper nutrition can have a significant impact on students' cognitive function, memory, and behavior. By providing smarter snacks, schools can help students reach their full potential.

�� Instill Lifelong Habits : Offering healthier snacks at a young age can help instill lifelong habits of making nutritious food choices. It's an investment in a healthier future.

�� Combat Childhood Obesity : Childhood obesity is a growing concern. Smarter Snacks can be a part of the solution, contributing to healthier weight management for our youth.

Negative Impact of Junk Food Canteens:
It's also crucial to consider the negative impact of junk food-filled canteens. Unhealthy snacks have been linked to several concerning issues for students, including:

�� Poor Nutrition : Junk food is typically high in calories, sugar, and unhealthy fats, which can lead to inadequate nutrition and over-consumption.

�� Academic Decline : Consuming junk food can lead to energy spikes and crashes, affecting students' focus and academic performance.

�� Addictive Ingredients : Many junk foods are designed to be addictive, which can lead to unhealthy eating habits that persist into adulthood.

�� Health Consequences : Regular consumption of junk food can contribute to health issues such as obesity, diabetes, and heart problems.

Introducing the EatMoveGrow Smarter Snack Grant Program!
We understand that transitioning to Smarter Snacks can be a challenge, which is why we're excited to announce the EatMoveGrow Smarter Snack Grant Program! We're offering grants to help schools fund the purchase of commercial snack carts that meet the Smarter Snack criteria. The grant includes:

Commercial Snack Cart : We'll provide funding to help your school purchase a commercial snack cart that meets all the necessary criteria for Smarter Snacks.
Initial Snack Stocking : Along with the cart, we'll help you get started by providing an initial supply of snacks that meet Smarter Snack guidelines.
Technical Support : EatMoveGrow and LA Team Nutrition will provide technical support in launching your new Smarter Snacks Cart and provide periodic check-ins for support.

How to Apply for the EatMoveGrow Smarter Snack Cart Grant:

Ensure your school is a current EatMoveGrow program site, committed to promoting wellness and a healthy lifestyle among students.
Gain the support of your school's leadership, showing their dedication to this important initiative.
Click on the link below to access the grant application
Complete the application form and submit it to Hannah at hannah@eatmovegrow.us

:
We're excited to offer the Smarter Snack Grants on a rolling basis. This means you can apply at a time that's most convenient for your school, and we'll consider applications as long as funding is available. We're here to support your commitment to healthier snack options for your students.

Stay tuned for more updates, tips, and resources to enhance the wellness of your students. Together, we can Eat, Move, and Grow toward a brighter and healthier future! ��

BMI Trends in Rural Louisiana Children

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 16:49:15 GMT

There are so many good reasons to communicate with site visitors. Tell them about sales and new products or update them with tips and information.

Here are some reasons to make blogging part of your regular routine.

Blogging is an easy way to engage with site visitors

Writing a blog post is easy once you get the hang of it. Posts don’t need to be long or complicated. Just write about what you know, and do your best to write well.

Show customers your personality
When you write a blog post, you can really let your personality shine through. This can be a great tool for showing your distinct personality.

Blogging is a terrific form of communication
Blogs are a great communication tool. They tend to be longer than social media posts, which gives you plenty of space for sharing insights, handy tips and more.

It’s a great way to support and boost SEO
Search engines like sites that regularly post fresh content, and a blog is a great way of doing this. With relevant metadata for every post so search engines can find your content.

Drive traffic to your site
Every time you add a new post, people who have subscribed to it will have a reason to come back to your site. If the post is a good read, they’ll share it with others, bringing even more traffic!

Blogging is free
Maintaining a blog on your site is absolutely free. You can hire bloggers if you like or assign regularly blogging tasks to everyone in your company.

A natural way to build your brand
A blog is a wonderful way to build your brand’s distinct voice. Write about issues that are related to your industry and your customers.

EMG News

Pass the Greens, Please

November: Enjoy more fruits and vegetables

Why it matters for school staff

Three small moves for November

What's in season in Louisiana

Check in and earn your November prize

"The first wealth is health." Ralph Waldo Emerson

﻿

Sources

Mission Complete: Highlights from the 2026 EMG Teacher Summit

Mission Complete: Highlights from the 2026 EMG Teacher Summit

Start Strong: Three 2-Minute Moves for October

Start Strong: Three 2-Minute Moves for October

Celebrating Our 2024–25 Gold School Award Recipients

Tracking Healthy Eating with the Veggie Meter

How a simple fingertip scan is transforming the way schools track healthy eating.

Quick, Easy, and Eye-Opening

What the Data Shows

Why It Matters

Looking Ahead

Building Healthier Schools: How SWCs Drive Real Change

Evidence-based strategies and real school stories showing how wellness committees transform student health.

Why SWCs Work

2024–25 By the Numbers

Spotlights on Success

Elevate Your School's Snack Game

EatMoveGrow and LA Team Nutrition Partner to Provide Snack Cart Grants

We're thrilled to share some exciting news that's about to make a significant impact on the snack choices available in EMG schools.

BMI Trends in Rural Louisiana Children