Schools and childcare programs are limiting unhealthy food choices, sugar drinks and screen time, while encouraging more physical activity
PRESQUE ISLE – Let’s Go! Aroostook, a program of Aroostook County Action Program, announced that they now have 29 school nutrition programs, 4 out-of-school programs, 31 early care and education programs, and 5 school programs across Aroostook County that are being recognized for creating places in which unhealthy food choices, sugar drinks and screen time are limited and physical activity is encouraged. The 69 sites are prioritizing healthy habits, by making the healthy choice, the easy choice.
“The program has really grown in the County over the last few years. This year was a challenge with the Pandemic and our sites really went above and beyond to continue to increase healthy habits,” said Renee Bragdon, Coordinator of the Aroostook County Let’s Go! Program. “Aroostook County has really embraced the concepts of Let’s Go! Ensuring our children have the tools they need to improve their health and start healthy habits. It has been very rewarding to see kids recognizing the message and learning to live a better life style.”
Introduced in 2012, the Let’s Go! Recognition Program identifies and celebrates schools, out-of-school programs, child care programs and health care practices for their role in improving the health of all children. The program focuses on sustainable change. A Bronze award reflects a site implementing the program’s five, evidence-based priority strategies, Silver acknowledges a site that has communicated these changes to parents and family members. Gold, the highest level of recognition, is reserved for sites that have written all five priority strategies into policy. This year, 917 Let’s Go! Sites across Maine and the Mt. Washington Valley, New Hampshire were recognized. A listing of all recognized sites can be found at sites.letsgo.org.
About Let’s Go!
Let’s Go! is a nationally recognized childhood obesity prevention program that reaches children and families where they live, learn, work and play. Let’s Go! is committed to changing environments and policies at child cares, schools, out-of-school programs, health care practices, workplaces and communities. The program’s multi-setting approach, daily 5-2-1-0 message (five or more fruits and vegetables, two hours or less of screen time, one hour or more of physical activity and zero sugary drinks) and 10 evidence-based strategies are used to effect change across the state of Maine. Strong leadership from The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center and collaboration across health systems and community health coalitions contribute to the program’s success.
