A nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism

NKY students from 26 schools learn about food sustainability by participating in Healthy Challenge 


Students at 26 schools in Boone, Campbell, Grant and Kenton Counties are participating in the annual Healthy Challenge for a designated week between March 4 and 22.

The Challenge encourages students and school staff to eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables and get at least thirty minutes of physical activity five out of the seven days of their Challenge week.

This year, there are also several new opportunities for schools to earn extra points, including:

• Providing a cafeteria share-table and conducting a food waste activity sponsored by Green Umbrella Waste Reduction Action Team

• Produce Pop-Ups at participating school campuses providing rescued produce by the Freestore Foodbank

• Serving locally sourced produce in partnership with The Ohio Valley Food Connection

• Providing school staff the KY Nutrition Education Series offered by the UK Extension Office

Produce Man (provided photo).

To help excite students about eating fruits and vegetables, Produce Man, the Health Department’s mascot, will visit several of the schools during their Challenge week.

Produce Man is a colorful character with more than 135 servings of fruits and vegetables attached to his body, who uses music and interactive games to promote eating more fruits and vegetables. 

Produce Man will be accompanied by registered dietitians and health educators from NKY Health.

For more information on the Healthy Challenge, a list of schools participating in the Challenge and organizations sponsoring the program, click here.

The Northern Kentucky Health Department provides public health services to more than 400,000 residents of Boone, Campbell, Grant and Kenton Counties, with a goal of preventing disease, promoting wellness and protecting against health threats.

The Health Department seeks to be a nationwide leader in public health, and was one of the first in the country to earn national public health accreditation. For more information, click here.

Northern Kentucky Health Department


Related Posts

Leave a Comment