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Parents Page

Project Healthy Schools welcomes you to the Parents’ Page! On this page look for a current easy, nutritious recipe, timely, healthy lifestyle information and links to give you more detailed information on the the same topic. Just below the current information is information from earlier this school year.

In 2009 our family will be more active!

What a great resolution because that means there is lots of family fun, smiles and good conversation ahead in addition to a healthier body. Why not make this part of your 2009? Start small. Set aside a specific time each week for family activity time. Then plan what you will do. Make it fun and include everyone in the family! The next week, do the same thing again or plan a new family event. Remember to make this event as important as other things on your calendar. After all, isn’t it important to teach your children that moving their bodies is an important and lifelong habit that you want them to learn now. Plus it helps you get in more activity. The recommendation is for children to get 60 minutes of active play and adults to get at least 30 minutes of activity most days of the week.

Having a hard time thinking of how to get started? Think of 3 things you can do to get your family moving. Check out the list of community activities below or think about taking the dog out for a walk or walking with your child to school. Do you have a gym or Y membership? Choose a date and time and go every week, no excuses. Pick a time when there’s something for you and the kids to do or go to family swim time. Is there a park near you? Check to see if there is skating, hockey, cross country skiing or trails to walk on. Look through the list of possibilities for indoor and outdoor activities after the More Tips section below. Choose what you want to do and then do it!

Try This Recipe

After a cold winter day there’s nothing like a piping hot pizza right from your own oven! Try this yummy pizza for a healthy dinner. Pair it with a green salad and a glass of milk for a filling, nutrient-rich meal.

Karen Smyer’s Black Bean Pizza (PDF)

Looking for some new winter recipes? Visit this website for Heart healthy Minestrone Soup to Old Fashioned Bread Pudding.

More Tips

Check out We Can! for great ideas on how to get more active and live a healthier lifestyle.

Children’s Activity Pyramid shows what type of exercise and how much is optimal!

See what the American Heart Association says about getting more active and find some easy ways to get started.

Team Nutrition activity book is all about getting more activity and eating healthy foods.

Team Nutrition provides lots of resources for idea on how to increase physical activity.

Get Active Outside!


Try a couple of these fun events to increase your activity level:

Funky Frosty Fridays at Buhr Park Ice Arena

The 2nd and 4th Friday of each month during our general skate from 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. Skate to themed music & dress up to win prizes for best costume!

Dec 26: Ugly Sweater Holiday Skate

Wear an ugly holiday sweater and skate to holiday classics.

Jan 9: Disco Skate

Bring out those bell bottoms and skate to the music of the 70’s.

Jan 23: Disney Night

Dress up like your favorite Disney character and skate to the magical Disney hits.

Feb 13: Valentine’s Skate

Show the love and skate to a romantic mix.

Feb 27: Rock the 80’s Skate

Rock the 80’s spandex and skate to big hair bands and monster ballads

March 13: St. Patrick’s Day Skate

Dress in green and skate to Irish folk music

Buhr Blitz Days

Saturdays Dec. 20, Jan. 17 and Feb. 21 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. General admission rates apply. Join us for an afternoon of special games, contests, and prizes.

Leslie Science and Nature Center Events

Space is limited so Pre-Registration is recommended. Register online at www.lesliesnc.org, drop off or mail-in form to 1831 Traver Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105 or call 734.997.1553. Fees.

January Thaw

Jan. 10, 1-3 p.m.
Nature’s mysteries unravel as we learn to follow and identify animal tracks, scat, chews, and clues through Aldo Leopold’s essay January Thaw. Register online at www.lesliesnc.org, drop off or mail-in form to 1831 Traver Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105 or call 734.997.1553.

Owl Prowl

Feb. 21, 7-9 p.m.
Join us for an enchanting evening with owls. Night hikes, owl calling and visits with live owls will fill the evening with wonder as we discover how ears, eyes and feathers help owls survive the night. Register online at www.lesliesnc.org, drop off or mail-in form to 1831 Traver Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105 or call 734.997.1553.

Looking for outdoor and indoor fun for the kids over school vacations or on Saturdays?

Go Skating! Days when Ann Arbor Public Schools are closed, vacations or other days, public skating is available from 11-1pm at Vets Park. Parks and Recreation. Fees. Sledding is free.

Go Skiing or Snow Boarding! Join the Ski & Board Club if you are in 6th through 9th grade and live in the Ann Arbor area. Hop on the bus and head to Mt. Brighton to get active on Jan. 19, 26 and Feb. 16. Fees.

Holiday Break Camp

Dec. 29 to 31, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fee: $140.
Session A: 1st and 2nd grade
Session B: 3rd to 5th
Celebrate the beauty and splendor of winter with games, sledding, hikes, crafts, stories and experiments. Investigate and discover nature's winter surprises. Register online at www.lesliesnc.org, drop off or mail-in form to 1831 Traver Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, or call 734.997.1553. Fees.

Days Off Outdoors

Nov. 4; Jan. 19; Feb. 16 and March 9, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Pizza lunch is
provided. Ages K-5th grade.
When schools are closed, come discover the wonderful world of nature! Sled
down the snowy slopes. Explore the forest, fields, and trails. Be a predator while
stalking your prey in a dense thicket A different adventure awaits you each day. Register online at www.lesliesnc.org, drop off or mail-in form to 1831 Traver Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, or call 734.997.1553.  Fees.

Winter Break Camp

Feb. 23 to 27, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Session A: 1st and 2nd grade
Session B: 3rd to 5th grade
Winter is wild and wonderful! You’re invited for scientific exploration, sledding,
hiking, and discovering animals. So, don't hibernate over break. Winter is full of
adventures. Register online at www.lesliesnc.org, drop off or mail-in form to 1831 Traver Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, or call 734.997.1553.  Fees.

Spring Break Camp

April 13 to 17, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Session A: K/1st grade
Session B: 2nd and 3rd
Session C: 4th and 5th
A week of walks in the woods, poking in the ponds, frolicking in the fields fills
your spring break with natural wonders. Other activities include outdoor games,
survival skills and explorations on the wet and wild side. Register online at
www.lesliesnc.org, drop off or mail-in form to 1831 Traver Road, Ann Arbor, MI
48105 or call 734.997.1553.  Fees.

More Ways to Get Active Outside!

Ann Arbor has great sledding hills: The city parks staff recommends these sites: Buhr Park, Burns Park, Huron Hills Golf Course, Leslie Park, Leslie Park Golf Course, and Veterans Memorial Park (golf greens and tees are off limits). All sites are unsupervised.

Cross-country trails: There is no charge to ski the ungroomed trails at Bird Hills Park, County Farm Park, Delhi Metropark, Dolph Park, Fuller Park, Gallup Park, Huron Hills and Leslie Park golf courses, or the U-M’s Saginaw Forest. Skiers also make their own trails at the U-M’s Radrick Farms Golf Course, including through adjacent woods. The public schools’ Eberwhite Woods is also skiable, as are the prairies at Pioneer High.

Ann Arbor Parks
Get moving on the walking paths, go cross country skiing or check out the hockey or ice skating possibilities.  Buhr Park and Veterans Park have rinks.  Days when Ann Arbor Public Schools are closed, vacations or other days, public skating is available from 11-1pm at Vets Park.   Looking for something special go to Buhr Park for Frosty Friday nights Hours, classes, fees are included on the website below.

Buhr Park Outdoor Ice Rink
2751 Packard Road,
or 734.971.3228
The Buhr Outdoor Ice Arena is open Nov. 14, 2008, to March 15, 2009. The rink
has a cooled subfloor that allows us to maintain ice even when it is over 50 degrees outside! Activities include public ice skating, drop-in hockey and rental hours. The facility has a heated lobby, vending, restrooms and four separate locker rooms for hockey. Skate rentals available. Fees.

Burns Park is a 15 acre neighborhood park in Ann Arbor on Wells and Baldwin adjacent to Burns Park School. It hosts a small shelter with restrooms, a sledding hill, ice skating rink and hockey rink in the winter, a small parking lot and play equipment.

Hudson Mills Metropark
8801 North Territorial Road Dexter, MI.
or 426–8211.
This is a 1549 acre park that features cross country ski trail totaling 12.9 km is marked and groomed for novice and intermediate skiers.  Amenities include eating facility, rental equipment on weekends, a warming shelter, and trail maps.  May have entrance fees.

Huron Clinton Metro Parks
Check the website to find a park near you and the winter services offered.
Amenities may include eating facility, rental equipment on weekends, and trail maps. Vehicle entrance fees.

Independence Lake County Park
3200 Jennings Rd. Webster Township, Whitmore Lake, MI 48189
or (734) 449-4437
This unique park is open year-round. Winter opportunities include ice fishing, ice skating, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Fees.

Nichols Arboretum
1610 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor
or (734) 647-7600
Winter is a great time to take a stroll and appreciate the conifers along the trails and river at the Arb. There are many hills for sledding and numerous scenic areas and trails for walking and hiking. Open every day, 8am to dusk.   Free.

Pinckney Recreation Area
8555 Silver Hill Rd. Pinckney, MI.
Available activities include snowmobiling, cross country skiing, hiking, and much more. Snowmobiling is allowed within designated areas when 4 inches of snow or more are on the ground. Hiking trails are closed to snowmobiling. There are also numerous trials in this 11,000 acre park that range from 2-35 miles long. A Motor Vehicle Pass may be necessary for entry into the park.

Rolling Hills County Park
7660 Stony Creek Ypsilanti, MI
or 734 484–9676
In winter, the park features a sledding hill, a half mile of cleared walking trail, three miles of groomed x-country ski trails and a half mile of torch lit ski trail. Toboggans, sledding tubes and x-c skiing equipment are available for rent.  Park visitors should expect to pay a vehicle entrance fee. County residents must show ID to receive the discounted rate. Ski rental available.

Veterans Memorial Park
2150 Jackson Rd, Ann Arbor
or (734)-761-7240
Great sledding hill plus indoor skating, hockey and a workout room.  Fees for indoor activities.

Get Active Inside!

Ann Arbor Public Schools Rec & Ed
Want to swim, dance, skate, ski, join an exercise class?  There’s all that and more offered in this catalog.

Ann Arbor Ice Cube
2121 Oak Valley Dr., Ann Arbor
or (734) 213-1600
Voted “Best Ice Rink in Michigan!” by the Readers of Michigan Hockey Magazine. Skating and Hockey.  Youth Tutor rentals available. Open year-round.  Fees.

Ann Arbor YMCA
400 W. Washington Ann Arbor
or (734) 996–9622
Open swim and gym activities including basketball, volleyball, soccer, etc. Also register for classes, sports leagues and day camps. Membership fees vary.

Briarwood Mall Walking
100 Briarwood Circle, Ann Arbor
(734) 994-5315
Mall Walkers: One trip around the entire interior of the mall is just less than 1 mile.
Monday – Saturday, 7:00 am to 9:00 pm; Sunday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm

Health and Fitness Center of Washtenaw Community College
4833 East Huron River Drive, Ann Arbor
or 734-975-9950
This center has a 25-yard lap pool, a warm water activity pool, Kids in Motion childcare, expansive fitness floor with state-of-the-art equipment, full-sized basketball and volleyball courts, cushioned walk/jog track, four group exercise studios, locker rooms with lots of amenities, personal training and weight management programs, and comprehensive group exercise scheduling including yoga, Pilates, cycling, strengthening and conditioning classes and aquatics at no additional charge

Mack Indoor Pool
715 Brooks St., Ann Arbor
(734) 994-2898
Come enjoy swimming, even throughout the cold winter months! Call for lap swim and open swim hours.

Meri Lou Murray Recreation Center
2960 Washtenaw, Ann Arbor  
(click on Parks and Facilities, Meri Lou Murray Recreation Center) or (734) 971–6355
Fitness facilities include a pool, track, weight room, badminton, basketball, and volleyball. Fees.
Hours: Mon–Fri: 6am–10pm, Sat: 8am–6pm, Sun: noon–10pm

MFit Fitness Center at the Ice Cube
2121 Oak Valley Drive, Ann Arbor
or (734) 998-8700
MFit Fitness Center at the Ice Cube programs and services include: sports-specific exercise programs, fitness testing and body composition testing, personal training, nutrition coaching, and classes. UM employees receive discounted rates. Each person receives a free program consultation and comprehensive equipment instruction with membership.

Matthaei Botanical Gardens, University of Michigan
1800 N. Dixboro Rd., Ann Arbor
or 734-647-7600
If you wish to avoid the chill of winter, walk through the Conservatory at the Gardens to experience the sights and smells of plants from all over the world.  Fee.

MFit Exercise and Relaxation Classes
Locations throughout UM campus
or (734) 975-3024
MFit offers a variety of exercise and relaxation classes at locations across the University of Michigan medical complex, the Ann Arbor campus and at the MFit Fitness Center-Ice Cube. MFit classes are open to all UMHS employees, U of M employees and the general public. Some of the classes include Zumba, Laughter Yoga, Abs and Back, Body Sculpting and Strength Training, Circuit Training, Gentle Yoga, Step Aerobics, Pilates, Belly Dancing, Personal Training, and many more!

Pittsfield Township Parks & Recreation
701 W. Ellsworth, Ann Arbor Phone: (734) 822–2120
For more information go to: Pittsfield Township Parks & Recreation

Planet Rock
82 April Dr., Ann Arbor
or (734) 827-2680
Planet Rock has over 22,000 sq. ft. climbing area with 50 ft high walls. There is Bouldering, Top Rope Climbing, and Lead Climbing available.

U-Move Fitness, University of Michigan
or  734 764-1342.
U-Move offers a wide variety of group exercise and wellness classes to faculty, staff, and students of the University of Michigan and residents of Ann Arbor and surrounding communities. Faculty, staff, and community members must purchase a membership through Rec Sports in order to have unlimited access to facilities

Veterans Memorial Sports Complex
2150 Jackson Rd, Ann Arbor
or (734)-761-7240
The newly renovated Veterans Memorial Park Indoor Ice Arena is one of Ann Arbor's most popular recreational facilities. The complex includes a regulation size rink of 85' x 200'. You can also work out in the fitness center that is open 7 days a week from 6am-midnight.

WideWorld Sports Center
2140 Oak Valley Drive Ann Arbor Phone:
or  (734)-913-GOAL
Join a team or attend a camp for soccer, flag football, or lacrosse for adults and youth. Fees.

Yost Ice Arena
1000 S. State, Ann Arbor
 (734) 764–4600
The U-M’s regulation NHL-size rink provides public skating, skate rental, skate sharpening, lockers, and learn-to-skate classes. Public skating hours. Fees.

Zap Zone
2809 Boardwalk, Ann Arbor
or (734)930-6670
Voted Number 1 for laser take, multi-level laser tag maze, and the largest laser tag mazes around!

October/November

Food and celebrations seem to go together especially at this time of year. Today there are lots of celebrations and lots of food at those celebrations. Let’s see there are birthdays, award ceremonies, recognition days, kickoff parties, holiday parties, open houses, family gatherings, work celebrations and the list goes on and on. Therein lies the problem! Occasional parties and a little extra food aren’t much of a worry but when we are celebrating something every other day and over-indulging regularly many of us gain weight.

November and December are two months that this happens a lot – in school and at home. A little forethought and planning can prevent that weighted down, sluggish feeling that results from overeating!

Help your children by planning ahead. Find fun activities to do at parties rather than making food the main focus of the event. Work physical activity into party times by including fun games that include lots of movement. Think about sending healthier snacks to their school celebrations. Suggest birthdays be celebrated on one day each month.

Trail Mix is a fun food to make at a classroom party or at home. Students can add what they like to their baggie of trail mix. You can change ingredients to suit your tastes or what is on sale at the grocery store.

Encourage you child’s teacher to give non food classroom rewards. Teachers tell us erasers and pencils are popular classroom rewards. Remember if you give your child’s teacher a holiday gift they may appreciate a non food item, too!

Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti schools have Wellness Policies in place. Inquire at your school to find out how you can help make it a healthier place to be.

Here’s a great, easy to make healthy snack, if you eat it in moderation.

More Tips

September

September’s topic is Healthy Eating. It is back-to-school month so it’s time to get back to school lunches. School hot lunch programs are required to meet national nutritional standards.

Look over the lunch menu (web links below) with your student and provide some guidance about what are the better choices. In Ann Arbor schools, start with the Balanced Choices lunch selection. These meet more strict nutrition guidelines on a day to day basis. Balanced Choices aren’t labeled on the school menus in Ypsilanti, so follow the suggestions below.

Everyone can find the healthier menu options. Burgers and pizza are ok occasionally, but have your children try some of the other hot lunch entrees every week.  Don’t forget to urge your student to include plenty of fruits and vegetables.  They add a lot of color, are rich in nutrients and are low in calories. Encourage your child to drink milk at lunch, too. Three glasses of milk (that can include milk from cereal) every day is recommended!

If your child prefers a lunch from home, to have him/her pack their own lunch. Outline the ‘must have’ items:

Then let your student choose one food from each of those categories to include in his/her lunch. Hummus along with tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce on whole wheat pita, a kiwi and a carton of milk makes a fast, easy lunch that has one food from each of the ‘must have’ categories above.

Check out this month’s lunch recipe. It’s a different kind of roll-up sandwich!

More Tips

Find out more:

More Information for Parents

If you want to learn more about PHS at your child’s school, choose the Participating Schools tab at the top of the page.

Please contact the Project Healthy Schools wellness coordinator, below, who works with your child’s school if you have questions or concerns.

Clague and Forsythe Middle Schools, Ann Arbor Open School
Susan Aaronson, R.D., M.S.
734-975-3032
susaaaro@umich.edu

Scarlett and Tappan Middle Schools
Lindsey Mitchell, M.P.H.
734-975-7440
lseyfert@umich.edu

Slauson, East and West Middle Schools
Cathy Fitzgerald, R.D., M.A.
734-975-3060
cfitz@umich.edu

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