As Popeye the Sailorman would say, you have to eat your spinach in order to get stronger. Many high school students have disregarded this advice and continue to eat  sugary, unhealthy treats. Massapequa High School is taking steps to achieve students who are educated about a healthier diet.

Teens and young adults should be building healthy food and physical activity habits to help them not only with their body but to show others that a healthy routine can change someone’s life for the better. According to MyPlate.gov, the appropriate way to eat sufficiently is dependent on balance; one has to enjoy vegetables, fruits, grains, protein foods, dairy and oils in moderation. MyPlate is a resource that teachers and students can use to interact with the lifestyles of eating healthy.

“It offers portion control along with maintaining sugar levels,” Massapequa High School Registered Nurse, Mrs. Nolan, said. “It’s a great balance of foods.”

MyPlate.gov gives children and adults the opotunity to try new ways of eating and living habits that can effect people’s lives for the better.

Massapequa students are required to take at least one health class over their four years spent as a high school student. Health class teachers encourages students to take the right path into a nourishing lifestyle. Mr. Draper, a Health Teacher at Massapequa High School, shows students the outcomes to healthier choices.  

“[MyPlate.gov] is a great tool for students. But in the end, [diet] depends on where you are from and who your family members are,” Mr. Draper said.

Massapequa School District is taking initiative in this healthy lifestyle by offering students nutritious alternatives to traditional unhealthy foods.

“We offer students the Salad Bar everyday- we only fry the french fries. We bake everything else.” Lunch Supervisor, Maria, said.

Since MHS offers an open campus, many students choose to eat out for lunch. Healthy options at nearby restaurants include salads and wraps at Bagel Cafe, Town Bagel, and Zona, or flatbreads and smoothies at Tropical Smoothie Cafe. Additionally, Zim Zari offers salads and some healthy tacos.

Of course every night should end with a delicious ice cream bar or some cookies dipped in milk, but is that always the smart thing to do? Kids would have a much more difficult time holding back from all the goodies, but this doesn’t mean yummy sugary treats they have to be ruled out altogether. Mr. Draper is a “fan of moderation.” He believes that “if you stop eating crappy foods completely, then you lose motivation.”  

With all the support from the Massapequa staff and websites that are provided, children and adults can continue to create a healthy lifestyle for themselves and their families, one step at a time.

Top Healthy Foods

1. Apples are like warriors fighting off damaging substances that are in your body!
2. Almonds do a great job at maintaining healthy levels of cholesterol!
3. Broccoli fights off the enemy called heart disease!
4. Blueberries are little doctors who make sure our body is working properly!
5. Oily Fish give us gifts to provide protection for our heart and nervous system!
6. Leafy Green Vegetables protect us from getting type 2 diabetes!
7. Sweet Potatoes provide presents for our body such as Vitamins A and C!
8. Wheat Germ supply us with an abundance of fiber!
9. Avocados decreases our blood cholesterol levels!
10. Oatmeal has a way of slowing digestion down and stabilizing blood-glucose levels!