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Latino students tend to have more access to unhealthy food at school and are less physically active than their peers, according to a Salud America! research review and animated video.
That’s why we need more schools like Blanca E. Sanchez Elementary in South Texas.
School officials at Sanchez Elementary, just 10 miles from the Mexican border in McAllen, Texas (85% Latino), wanted to help their students overcome language barriers and limited resources to achieve healthy minds and healthy weight.
So they started taking kids out for a morning recess. Started providing activity breaks throughout the day. Earned a $25,000 national physical fitness grant to do more.
Teachers also instruct students on healthy eating at school and home.
Now, thanks to their efforts and support from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, their students’ test scores and attendance higher than ever before.
Sanchez Elementary was named one of 328 of the healthiest schools in America by the Alliance.
“We believe healthy children make for better learners,” McAllen ISD Superintendent J.A. Gonzalez said in a statement. “Children who grow up with healthy habits will lead more productive lives and enjoy a greater quality of life.”
Explore More:
Maternal & Child HealthBy The Numbers
20.7
percent
of Latino kids have obesity (compared to 11.7% of white kids)
