Healthy Military Children is going strong at MacDill Air Force Base (AFB) thanks to the Healthcare to Health (H2H) Certified Health Education Specialists and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist on site.
Each month, the MacDill AFB Chapel hosts a family dinner and bingo night. H2H is there to provide information to parents and facilitate a 30-minute interactive 5210-based educational experience for the kids.
Activities have included the following:
• taste testing fruit infused waters
• using food models to build a healthy plate, and
• using a life-size game board where kids complete the activity listed on the space they land on (e.g.,10 pushups).
Kids love ‘spinning the wheel’ and answering questions about their own physical activity, screen time, and consumption of fruits and vegetables and sugary beverages.
Each month between 35 and 70 family members enjoy a meal, fellowship, and five spirited games of bingo, and they receive reinforcement of key healthy lifestyle behaviors.
MacDill AFB has also offers a run club and recently have initiated cooking classes for the entire family. They are also promoting the Great Outdoor Challenge for children to participate in during the summer months.