Rats in the classroom, whole wheat macaroni and low fat cheese and fresh fruit bowls all have one thing in common. They are part of the award-winning nutrition program Melanie Konarik designed to encourage students in the Spring school district to make healthy choices about the food they eat in light of the growing problem of childhood obesity.
Menus for breakfast and lunch brim with choices such as macaroni chili cheese, whole wheat pizzas topped with vegetables and turkey, spicy baked chicken drum sticks and taco salad.
Then there are the rats.
Konarik introduced the rats into the middle school science classroom for students to observe the effects of a healthy diet versus a junk food diet on male lab rats over a six-week period. Two rats are fed school lunch food, while two are fed such delights as chips, cookies and sugary drinks.
Konarik said as students took measurements and observed the rats’ behavior it soon became obvious that the rats on a healthy diet thrived better than those on a junk food diet.
“One of most phenomenal effects is that children saw dramatically what a good diet will do,” Konarik said, adding that a good diet showed up in the rats’ coat, eyes, weight and personality.
Now Spring students won’t be the only ones reaping the benefits of Konarik’s innovative nutrition program.
Students in school districts across the country participating in first lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign also stand to benefit, after Konarik was tapped to lend her expertise.
Full Article: Ultimate Spring, TX
13. November 2010 at 7:27 pm
This article is extremely fascinating. This is the virtual life. To me it made me something to study for the rest of my life.